USP Outcomes & Polk Library
University Studies Program goals and Polk Library
The University Studies Program provides students with an assessable, common intellectual experience that also embraces the traditional breadth of a liberal arts education to prepare them for the challenges of work, for engaged citizenship and for a meaningful and satisfying life.
“Working with [the librarian] from the library I feel was very helpful. I now feel confident that I can go to the library and find a book that I would need for a different class. Learning how to use databases to find a limited number of useful articles related to my research paper made finding articles less stressful. I was able to find good articles faster than I would have ever been able to before this class.”
-- First year student, reflecting on what they found useful in their course
Many of the USP goals and learning outcomes complement the information literacy standards actively promoted by Polk Library. See the below table for details about how they are linked:
|
Information Literacy Standard | USP Essential Learning Outcome or Program Goal |
|---|---|
| Determines nature and extent of information needed | Information literacy; Acculturation to University/Academic expectations |
| Accesses needed information effectively and efficiently | Information literacy; Technology literacy |
| Evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into knowledge base and system | Critical and creative thinking;
Identification and objective evaluation of theories and assumptions |
| Uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose |
Teamwork, leadership and problem solving practiced extensively, across the curriculum, in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects and standards for performance |
| Understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally | Ethical reasoning and action |
