General Education Assessment

Program Assessment (Assessment of General Education Goals)

The seven WCU General Education goals are assessed in three-year cycles using AACU and WCU-created rubrics (enter your WCU credentials to access the rubrics).

Procedure

Every year, an open call for participation in General Education assessment is sent to all WCU instructors teaching the specific General Education courses to be assessed that academic year (AY). From the pool of interested participants, six instructors are selected to be part of that year General Education assessment cohort. The cohort is selected trying to have a wide representation of departments and colleges, while maintaining the first-come-first-serve order. During the summer of that AY, all six reviewers meet to review and rate student artifacts (anonymous) for the goals under review, against specific rubrics. After artifacts are rated and the data are analyzed, a report per goal is written and results are shared with the WCU community. This General Education assessment process is done under the oversight of the Associate Provost for Accreditation, Assessment, & Planning, and the General Education Assessment Director.

The seven WCU General Education goals

Goal #1: Communicate effectively
Goal #2: Think critically and analytically
Goal #3: Employ quantitative concepts and mathematical methods
Goal #4: Demonstrate the ability to think across and about disciplinary boundaries
Goal #5: Respond thoughtfully to diversity
Goal #6: Understand varied historical, cultural, and philosophical traditions
Goal #7: Make informed decisions and ethical choices

General Education Assessment Five-year Cycle

Year 1: Goal #1 and Goal #3
Year 2: Goal #2 and Goal #4
Year 3: Goal #1 and Goal #5
Year 4: Goal #2 and Goal #6
Year 5: Goal #7 and Goal#3, 4, 5, or 6 (one goal selected based on previous results and needing further analysis)

Rubrics

(password protected. https://www.wcupa.edu/deputy-provost/capc/genEd/assessments.aspx )

Alignment of WCU General Education courses with Goals

Distributive Goals
Sciences 1,2, 3
Humanities 1, 2, 6
Arts 1, 2, 6
Behavioral and Social Sciences 1, 2; 3 and/or 6
Academic Foundations & Degree Requirements  Goals
English Composition (WRT 120/123 + WRT 2XX) 1,2
Mathematics 1, 2, 3
Interdisciplinary 1, 2, 4
Diverse Communities 1, 2, 5
Ethics 1,2,7
Writing Emphasis 1,2
Speaking Emphasis 1,2

First Year Experience: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7*

Capstone: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7*

WCU Reports per General Education Goal

(Add the different reports we have for all Goals.)