Board of Trustees Objectives

(adapted from: http://www.sysadm.suny.edu/provost/generaleducation/course-guidelines-v2.pdf)

Mathematics (our MATH category) revised, 4/13/5

(This area is under strengthened campus-based assessment. Assessments in individual courses should align with the rubric available at

http://www.cortland.edu/gear/mathpanel.html)

1. Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret and draw inferences from mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables and schematics.

2. Students will demonstrate the ability to represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically and verbally.

3. Students will demonstrate the ability to employ quantitative methods such as, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or statistics to solve problems.

4. Students will demonstrate the ability to estimate and check mathematical results for reasonableness.

5. Students will demonstrate the ability to recognize the limits of mathematical and statistical methods.

Natural Sciences (our NSCI category)

1. Students will demonstrate understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical analysis.

2. Students will demonstrate application of scientific data, concepts and models in one of the natural sciences.

Social Sciences (our SSCI category)

1. Students will demonstrate understanding of the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical and interpretative analysis.

2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, models and issues of at least one discipline in the social sciences.

American History (our USST category)

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of a basic narrative of American history: political, economic, social, and cultural, including knowledge of unity and diversity in American society.

2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of common institutions in American society and how they have affected different groups.

3. Students will demonstrate understanding of America's evolving relationship with the rest of the world.

Western Civilization (our WEST category)

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the development of the distinctive features of the history, institutions, economy society, culture, etc. of Western civilization.

2. Students will relate the development of Western civilization to that of other regions of the world.

Other World Civilizations (our WRLD category)

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of a broad outline of world history.

OR (Only one objective would be assessed. Course plans would specify which one.)

2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the distinctive features of the history, institution, economy, society, culture, etc., of one non-Western civilization.

Humanities (our HUM category)

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least one of the humanities.

The Arts (our ART category)

1. Students will demonstrate understanding of at least one principal form of artistic expression and the creative process inherent therein.

Foreign Language (our FLNG category)

1. Students will demonstrate basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a foreign language.

2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language hey are studying.

Basic Communication (essentially our COMP category)

(This area is under strengthened campus-based assessment, although this only applies to the first two objectives. Assessments in individual courses should align with the rubric available at http://www.cortland.edu/gear/writingpanel.html)

1. Students will produce coherent texts within common college-level written forms.

2. Students will demonstrate the ability to revise and improve such texts.

3. Students will research a topic, develop an argument, and organize supporting details.

4. Students will develop proficiency in oral discourse.

5. Students will evaluate an oral presentation according to established criteria.

Critical Thinking (all courses with our Systematic Inquiry competency)

(This area is under strengthened campus-based assessment. Assessments in individual courses should align with the rubric available at http://www.cortland.edu/gear/criticalthinkingpanel.html)

1. Students will identify, analyze, and evaluate argument as they occur in their own or others' work.

2. Students will develop well-reasoned arguments.

Information Management (all courses with our Information Literacy competency)

1. Students will perform the basic operations of personal computer use.

2. Students will understand and use basic research techniques.

3. Students will locate, evaluate and synthesize information from a variety of sources.