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The Liberal Education Reform Team is charged with presenting a framework for student learning outcomes to be adopted by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. The following outcomes, based on those from the Association of American Colleges & Universities, are being proposed for campus-wide discussion and adoption

Essential Learning Outcomes for Students

LERT embraces the following definition of liberal education:
Liberal education is a philosophy of education that empowers individuals with broad knowledge and transferable skills, and a strong sense of values, ethics, and civic engagement. These broad goals have been enduring even as the courses and requirements that comprise a liberal education have changed over the years. Characterized by challenging encounters with important and relevant issues today and throughout history, a liberal education prepares graduates both for socially valued work and for civic leadership in their society. It usually includes a general education curriculum that provides broad exposure to multiple disciplines and ways of knowing, along with more in-depth study in at least one field or area of concentration. [Source: Advocacy “What is a liberal education?” ]

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

Skills, both Intellectual and Practical, including
• 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
Practiced extensively, across the curriculum, in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects, and standards for performance

Responsibility, as Individuals and Communities, including
• Knowledge of sustainability and its applications
• Civic knowledge and engagement—local and global
• Intercultural knowledge and competence
• Ethical reasoning and action
• Foundations and skills for lifelong learning
Developed through real-world challenges and active involvement with diverse communities

Learning: Integrated, Synthesized, and Advanced, 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.

[Note: Learning Outcomes are adapted from AAC&U report, College Learning for a New Global Century ].

News

Faculty Senate approves learning outcomes.

At its May 13th meeting, the University’s Faculty Senate unanimously voted to approve a set of UW Oshkosh Student Learning Outcomes. The Senate of Academic Staff has also supported the outcomes.

The learning outcomes were developed by the University’s Liberal Education Reform Team (LERT), which is comprised of faculty, staff and students, and chaired by John Koker, Susan Nuernberg and Barbara Rau. The LERT effort was guided by the framework established for AAC&U’s Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) national campaign, but modified according to input received from a series of presentations by LERT members to colleges, departments, governance groups, and student and academic support services across campus. The next steps for LERT are to conduct a self study to determine how the various campus units are currently addressing the learning outcomes, and to create a plan that will enable UW Oshkosh faculty and instructional staff to set specific objectives that will lead to students’ achievement of the learning outcomes.

Open forums scheduled

There will be two open forums to discuss the revised learning outcomes that incorporate feedback from meetings with departments in all colleges. They will be held Monday, April 28, and Thursday, May 1,-- both at 3:00 PM and both in Reeve Union room 214.

Team members meeting with departments to get feedback

Members of LERT plan will be attending departmental meetings to gain feedback about the the adoption of the Essential Learning Outcomes. A form is available to give your feedback to the team

Team members to participate in AAC&U meetings

Members of LERT plan to attend two AAC&U meetings this spring. A group will participate in "Integrative Designs for General Education and Assessment" in Boston, February 21-23, while a five-member team will apply for admittance to the "Institute on General Education" in Minneapolis, May 30-June 4.

Team members scheduled for college meetings

Members of the Liberal Education Reform Team are scheduling presentations to College and Division meetings to present a summary of the activities of the team, particularly the adoption of the Essential Learning Outcomes for Students and to gain feedback on how to proceed to accomplish these goals.