a degree is more than a major: explaining usu’s degree profile norm jones, director of general...
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A Degree is More than a Major: Explaining USU’s Degree Profile
Norm Jones, Director of General Education and Curricular Integration
USU Citizen Scholar Degree ProfileA USU Grad will
• understand processes of acquiring knowledge and information;
• reason logically, critically, creatively, and independently, and be able to address problems in a broad context;
• recognize different ways of thinking, creating, expressing, and communicating through a variety of media;
• understand diversity in value systems and cultures in an interdependent world; and
• develop a capacity for self-assessment and lifelong learning.
Grads Have These Competencies
• reading, listening, and viewing for comprehension;
• communicating effectively for various purposes and audiences;
• .
Grads Have These Competencies
• understanding and applying mathematics and other quantitative reasoning techniques;
• using various technologies competently; and
• working effectively, both collaboratively and individually
HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A
It Takes More Than A Major:Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success
Key findings from survey among 318 employersConducted January 9 – 13, 2013for
7
Our company puts a priority on hiring people with the intellectual and inter-personal skills that will help them contribute to innovation in the workplace
Candidates’ demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, & solve complex problems is more important than their undergraduate major
Our company is asking employees to take on more responsibilities and to use a broader set of skills than in the past
Innovation is essential to our company/organization’s continued success
The challenges employees face within our company are more complex today than they were in the past
Innovation, critical thinking, and a broad skill set are key for meeting complex challenges in the workplace.
Strongly agree with this statement about employees/future hires Somewhat agree
95%
93%
93%
92%
91%
8
Having both field-specific knowledge and skills AND a broad range of skills and knowledge
Having a range of skills and knowledge that apply to a range of fields or positions
Having knowledge and skills that apply to a specific field or position
Quality = A Both/And VisionLong-term career success requires broad knowledge and specific skills
Which is more important for recent college graduates who want to pursue advancement and long-term career success at your company?
How do we prepare them to succeed in their majors?
How do we provide the competencies employers want in
our graduates?
TWO YEAR: WHAT SHOULD A STUDENT KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO DO BEFORE ENTERING UPPER DIVISION COURSES?
There are levels of competence
FOUR YEAR: WHAT SHOULD A STUDENT KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO DO UPON DEGREE COMPLETION?
There are levels of competence
General Education
• Core Competencies in Communications and Quantitative Reasoning
• Breadth of knowledge• Understanding of how knowledge is created• Understanding of how knowledge is assessed• Understanding of how knowledge is accessed
University Studies
• Continues development of competencies in fields outside the major
• Ensures that students use knowledge from General Education
The Major
• Provides many of the competencies, and reinforces others
• Provides in depth disciplinary training
Electives and Extracurricular Experiences
• Serendipitous Depth • Exploration• Passions• Experience• Community engagement
Is a Credit A Competence?
• Is passing the class the same as being competent?
• Is old learning still useable learning?• What if a student has all the hours, but is
incompetent?• (Will the student need to be competent
eternally?)
Is the Credit about to Disappear as a Measure of Learning?
• It is under consideration by the Carnegie Foundation that created it.
• Credits do not measure learning, they measure seat time.
• All of us need to be talking about learning as the measure we will use, not credits or time before a teacher.
What to tell our advisees
• What do they need to know, understand and be able to do if you want to succeed?
• What skills and competencies their proposed major expects. And when?
• What are the competencies associated with their majors and their degree upon completion.