Celebrate Learning!
Page 6
Academic Affairs Updates
HLC Open Pathways Beginning at TCC
TCC is beginning a proactive approach to meeting the new accreditation standards established by the Higher Learning Commission with the formation of Criterion Team. The teams will investigate evidence for meeting
the core components within the five criteria. The five criteria will address the minimum standards for all member higher education institutions within the North Central Association. The five criteria are: 1) Mission, Diversity, and the Public Good, 2) Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct, 3) Teaching and Learning: Quality,
Resources, and Support, 4) Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement, and 5) Resources, Planning,
and Institutional Effectiveness. Each of the Criterion Teams will be led by tri-chairs consisting of representatives from the employee groups of staff, faculty, and professional associations. An overview team of tri-chairs of the same composition
will be formed for strategic direction of the entire plan. The new model for accreditation called Open Pathways will begin January
2013 for all institutions who were formerly PEAQ (Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality). No longer a ten-year self-study, Open
Pathways employs a continual quality improvement cycle in which a Blackboard-type Learning Management System is used to upload
files/artifacts of evidence that ensures evidence of meeting the minimum standards called core components. The review system is periodic
electronic review with a site visit of a team at the ten-year mark. For more information, go the: http://www.ncahlc.org.
Academic Council Sub-Committee Reviewing General Education Goals
A General Education Goals Task Force has been established under the Academic Council for review of the currency of skills and
knowledge that all graduates of TCC attain upon completion of their degree. The current general education goals are:
Goal 1: Critical Thinking. Critical thinking is the ability to use reasoning skills or strategies to analyze, evaluate and integrate information. Students who have developed critical thinking skills will be able to demonstrate at least one of the following:
• comprehend complex ideas, data, and concepts
• make inferences based on careful observation
• make judgments based on specific and appropriate criteria
• solve problems using specific processes and techniques
• recognize relationships among the arts, culture, and society
• develop new ideas by synthesizing related and/or fragmented information
• apply knowledge and understanding to different contexts, situations, and/or specific endeavors
• recognize the need to acquire new information
Goal 2: Effective Communication. Effective communication is the ability to develop organized, coherent, unified written and oral
presentations for various audiences and situations. Students who have developed effective communication skills will be able to demonstrate at least one of the following:
• organized, coherent and unified written presentations (in the language of your discipline) for various audiences and situations
• organized, coherent and unified oral presentations (in the language of your discipline) for various audiences and situations
Goal 3: Engaged Learning. Engaged Learning is meaningful participation in civic, scholarly and cultural activities. Students who are
engaged learners will be able to demonstrate at least o