GUIDELINES FOR FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE LEARNING OUTCOMES

DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY THE BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS COMMITTEE, MARCH 14, 2013

PREAMBLE

First year experience is a proven high-impact educational practice, designed to address critical issues

including retention and attrition of first-year undergraduates and the transition from high school to

postsecondary education. The majority of first year experiences involve campus resources and topics

related to academic success, personal wellbeing, financial literacy, community awareness, and

professional development. After initial drafting by the Student Affairs Committee, the

Baccalaureate Requirements Committee approved the following student learning outcomes for the

first year experience on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in an effort to address the above issues and to

improve student success:

First Year Experience

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a first-year experience, students will be able to:

Academic

  • Explain how campus resources and services are utilized to facilitate academic success.
  • Explain basic concepts related to academic success (e.g., information literacy, critical and creative thinking, time management, test taking strategies, academic honesty, plagiarism, goals and objectives, academic planning).

Personal

  • Explain how campus resources and services are utilized to facilitate individual wellbeing.
  • Explain basic concepts related to personal development (e.g., antecedents, behaviors, and consequences of negative and positive health behaviors; stress management; connection between physical, social, psychological health, wellness, and quality of life; values and ethics; decision making).

Financial

  • Explain how campus resources and services are utilized to support financial planning and management.
  • Explain basic concepts related to financial literacy (e.g., budget, loans, salary, tuition, taxes, credit, savings).

Community

  • Explain how campus resources and services are utilized to facilitate community engagement.
  • Explain basic concepts related to community engagement (e.g., community service learning, campus student organizations, social and/or environmental justice, equity, social capital).

Professional

  • Explain how campus resources and services are utilized to explore majors and disciplines, and prepare for a career(s).
  • Explain basic concepts related to professional development [e.g., career interest areas, profession and/or industry, professionalism, competencies, leadership, group dynamics, internships, academic majors and/or disciplines, networking, communication (resumes, cover letters, interviewing)].