Resolution on Program Educational Goals

The Task Force’s proposed resolution on program educational goals was introduced to the Faculty Senate by Senator & Task Force co-chair Beth Mornling on February 10, 2020. The below resolution has been added to the Regular Agenda for March 2, 2020.

Recommendation from the Task Force on Learning Goals & Assessment with the concurrence of the Faculty Senate Undergraduate Studies Committee (William Rose, Chair), the Graduate Studies Committee (Chris Williams, Chair), the Coordinating Committee on Education (Charles Boncelet, Chair), and the Executive Committee (Matt Robinson, Chair) for the request to approve Learning Goals at the University of Delaware

WHEREAS, program educational goals clearly state the expected knowledge, skills,attitudes, competencies, habits of mind and/or other characteristics that students are expected to acquire in the specific educational program; and

WHEREAS, for the purposes of this resolution, an educational program is a program of study that leads to a degree (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s,doctoral degrees). For the purposes of this resolution educational programs do not include concentrations, certificates, minors, or other non-degree programs; and

WHEREAS, the course catalog currently includes curricular information specific to degree programs but does not publicly share the program educational goals these programs support; and

WHEREAS, clearly stated program educational goals can guide curriculum design and revision and guide assessment activities, a process fundamental to the educational mission of a university; and

WHEREAS, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accrediting body requires universities to clearly state educational goals, and regularly assess student accomplishment of these goals; and

WHEREAS, the Provost’s Task Force on Learning Goals and Assessment developed a timeline recommending that programs with existing educational goals submit them by October 2020, and other programs submit them no later than October 2021, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that representatives from all educational programs will submit program educational goals to the Faculty Senate for publication in the academic catalog on the suggested timeline; and be it further

RESOLVED, that any newly proposed educational program be required to include program educational goals.

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