chapter+3+standards

Chapter 3 Standards

** Standards ** This section will outline the standards of higher institutions of learning. The standards outlined in this section are twofold first Institution accreditation and secondly standards set for student learning outcomes upon graduation. Identify the organization(s) that provide your professional standards, include standards, resource sites Institutions of Higher learning are accredited by regional and national association of schools and colleges. The national association is broken down into six regions of operation: Middle states, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern and Western. Each region operates as an independent association but recognizes the other regions accreditation besides operating co operatively regarding professional collaborations. University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO) falls under the North Central Association (NCA). The NCA is made up of two independent corporations: The commission of Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI) which accredits K-12 schools as well as non degree granting post secondary schools and the Higher Learning Commission which accredits degree granting institutions. (The Higher Learning Commission, 2007) There are two program forms of affiliation a college or university can work towards: by gaining and maintaining accredited status or by gaining and maintaining candidate status. The Higher Learning Commission provides two programs for maintaining accredited status: the Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality (PEAQ) and the Academic Quality Improvement (AQIP). PEAQ conducts a five step thorough evaluation process to verify continued accreditation: Self study, evaluation team, comprehensive visit review, Review committee reviews report and then takes action, and finally the board of Trustees validates the work of IAC (The Higher Learning Commission, 2007). The Higher Learning Commission has set five major headings to organize the Criteria for Accreditation concerning college and Universities. These Criterions have three elements: Criterion Statement, Core Components and examples of Evidence. The Criterion five criteria headings are: 1 Mission and Integrity, 2 Preparing for the Future, 3 Student Learning and Effective Teaching, 4 Acquisition, Discovery and Application of knowledge, 5 Engagement and Service. An institute of Higher Learning must first seek initial status with the commission by entering into the Eligibility process to determine if the institute is prepared for a team visit. After eligibility is determined. Then candidacy is established and the institution provides a plan for the candidacy period. During a four year time period teams from the commission evaluate the institution if it is progressively demonstrating evidence of fulfilling the plan for candidacy. Once the four year candidacy period concluded and the college or university provides the evidence then pre accreditation status is granted (The Higher Learning Commission, 2007). After the initial Criteria for Accreditation is earned or the requirements of the Candidacy program are completed every affiliated organization agrees to meet the obligations affiliations which include a periodic review, submitting required reposts, completing annual reposts and required visits by commission and paying all fees and dues owed to the commission(The Higher Learning Commission, 2007). The University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh has adopted new standards for student learning in 2008. These new standard have been stated as the new learning outcomes for the skills needed for students entering the workforce in the 21st century. These new learning outcomes were adapted from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) report, College Leaning for a New Global Economy (Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2007). These standards were developed through a ten year initiative to identify and clarify the learning outcomes necessary for students to achieve 21st century skills in order to compete in a global economy. These standards were adopted by the UWO in 2008 and are currently being incorporated into curriculum development (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 2008).

These new learning outcomes were adapted from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) report, College Leaning for a New Global Economy (Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2007). These standards were developed through a ten year initiative to identify and clarify the learning outcomes necessary for students to achieve 21st century skills in order to compete in a global economy. These standards were adopted by the UWO in 2008 and are currently being incorporated into curriculum development (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 2008). The following is an overview of the student learning outcomes as adopted by the Liberal Education Reform Team (LERT) at UWO:  1 Knowledge: of Human cultures and the Physical and Natural World Through study in fine and performing arts, humanities, mathematics and science and social science. Focused by engagement with big questions, both contemporary and enduring. 2 Skills: both Intellectual and Practical Identification and objective evaluation of theories and assumptions Critical and creative thinking Written and oral communication Quantitative literacy Technology and information literacy Teamwork, leadership and problem solving. 3 Responsibility: as individuals and Communities Knowledge of sustainability and its applications Civic knowledge and engagement –local and global Ethical reasoning and action Foundations and skills for lifelong learning Developed through real-world challenges and active involvement with diverse communities. 4 Learning: Integrated, synthesized and Advance including Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies. Demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems. Currently residence life has community building learning outcomes which foster competencies in six areas for students in residence life. The six areas of competencies are: Academic support Student will be able to identify academic support services and programs on campus Civic Engagement Students will learn to address public and social concerns (floor, hall, campus, Oshkosh or societal) Interpersonal Communication Students will learn to interact with others and form and maintain healty relationships. Healthy Living Students will learn how lifestyle choices affect helath and well-being Multicultural Awareness, knowledge and skills Students will gain a greater understanding sensitivity, and appreciation of history, values and experiences related to: Race, Ethnicity, National Origin, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religious Affiliation, Socio-economic Status and Physical and Mental Abilities. Oral Communication Students will learn to express thoughts in a clear, concise, constructive manner.

Tell how standards match with the goals for a 21st century education

· Discuss how what you teach (or the services your office offers) matches/doesn’t match

References Association of American Colleges and Universities (2007). //College Learning for the New Global Century// (978-0-9779210-4-1). Retrieved October 15, 2009, from UW Oshkosh Web site: http://www.uwosh.edu/projects/lert/lert.php (Higher Learning Commission 2007 Institutional Accreditation: An Overview) The Higher Learning Commission. (2007). //Institutional Accreditation: An Overview// [Brochure]. Chicago, Ill: Author. (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 2008 Liberal Education at UW Oshkosh) University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. (2008). //Liberal Education at UW Oshkosh// [Brochure]. October 27, 2009, from http://www.uwosh.edu/projects/lert/lert.php University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, (2008) //Residence life Community Building Learning Outcomes// [Handout]. From

