WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

on assessment practices and a copy of the guide. A copy of the Handbook is available on the
WNCC website through a link titled Assessment of Student Learning located under the A-Z
directory (RR 66).
General Education
The assessment of student learning within the General Education (GE) core as well as within
individual classes which provide instruction in aspects of general education has been selected as
an important tool through which to gain a fuller understanding of student learning at WNCC.
Strategies are being developed to create a system of measurement, data collection, analysis, and
application of results through feedback loops which can help to illustrate the overall level of
academic attainment and individual development in relation to the general education curriculum.
General Education Purposes
The inclusion of coursework in the area termed general education at WNCC is designed to
broaden the student as a person. The general education experience within Associate of Arts and
Associate of Science degree programs consists of a comprehensive set of choices in science,
communications, mathematics, social science, humanities, and physical education/wellness aimed
at preparing students for productive employment in a diverse global environment; for their roles in
society as citizens and professionals; and for adequate preparation for transfer to other colleges.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for an associate’s degree are consistent with the College’s
philosophy statement and role and mission statements, which confirm that all students should
demonstrate competencies that would allow them to seek higher education, participate as an active
member in society, or achieve responsible careers in a contemporary work environment. Students
in career-oriented areas are expected to be able to communicate, to calculate, to evaluate, and to
understand the social and scientific implications of the world around them. Students preparing for
transfer to a baccalaureate program must complete a general education requirement which is
broad in scope and requires an in-depth level of inquiry.
General Education Program Goals
In 2000, WNCC developed a more specific list of defined goals for general education courses, and
that list was refined in 2003 to a briefer statement of expected student outcomes. The goals are
clearly articulated in the College catalogue, and the goals are linked to course competencies. As a
result of the general education experience at WNCC, degree-seeking students will develop and
improve the following skills, attitudes, behaviors, and abilities to college-level performance:
1. Communication–including effective written and oral skills
2. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving–including mathematical and scientific inquiry
3. Computer and Information Literacy–including an ability to access and utilize information
from a variety of sources to organize, store, and retrieve information effectively
4. Cultural and Civic Awareness–including understanding ethics, exploring diversity, and
appreciating the arts and humanities
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