General Education Purpose Statement
General education provides students with a breadth of knowledge and capacity for lifelong learning. It stretches students’ minds, broadens their experiences and develops skills to adapt to changing environments. General education prepares students with the skills to communicate effectively, problem-solve, evaluate, locate, synthesize and gather information as well as think critically and logically. It teaches students to explore diversity and its interrelationships as well as community engagement and informed citizenship. Students are taught ethical responsibility, social responsibility, teamwork and the interpersonal skills needed to succeed in a professional environment.
Our general education philosophy is embedded in our mission and vision and is supported by our core values. These core values serve to emphasize our
commitment to serving and educating students, to academic excellence, and to continuous improvement of the education we offer. We work collaboratively to create a campus culture that is academically challenging with holistic support.
General Learning Outcomes
Effective Communication (Written, Oral, Reading and Listening)
- Organize and develop ideas effectively with a clear message.
- Present ideas in an appropriate, mechanically and grammatically correct, professional style.
- Follow a standardized documentation format using credible evidence.
Quantitative Literacy (Includes Computational Skills)
- Explain and convert relevant information into various mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words).
- Draw appropriate conclusions based on quantitative or qualitative analysis of data and evaluations of assumptions and parameters in problem-solving, estimation, modeling and statistical analysis using appropriate strategies, tools and technology.
- Organize and synthesize quantitative or qualitative evidence in support of the argument or purpose of the work using appropriate formatting and context.
Information Literacy Skills
- Effectively define the scope, and determine key concepts of, the needed information to achieve specific purpose.
- Locate, evaluate, synthesize and communicate effectively the information obtained using appropriate strategies.
- Recognize ethical and legal restrictions on the use of information including copyright rules and the ethics of extracting, sharing and citing source information.
Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyze and synthesize information or data to make decisions and problem-solve.
- Reflect and analyze one’s own and others’ assumptions and draw informed and logical conclusions.
- Test conclusions against relevant criteria and standards while considering practical and ethical implications.
Global and Diversity Awareness
- Demonstrate an awareness of factors that impact diversity, equity and inclusion: culture, history, sexual identity, psychological functioning, education, economics, environment, geography, language, politics, age, gender, ethnic background, physical challenges, social class, social skills and religion.
- Articulate and identify differences between individuals and groups to work effectively cross-culturally through collaboration and communication.
- Evaluate and apply diverse perspectives to complex subjects within natural and human systems in the face of multiple and even conflicting positions while understanding one’s identity in the global context.
Civic, Professional and Ethical Responsibility
- Demonstrate personal integrity and social responsibility consistent with ethics, individual rights, principles of sustainability, and civility in a democratic society.
- Communicate respectfully and professionally, and promote community services and engagement with diverse populations in a manner that is expected of ethical professionals and the community as a whole.
- Engage as a contributing member of a team in a productive, cohesive manner.