The mission of foundational learning, also known as general education, at WVU Parkersburg reflects the institution’s mission to provide life-changing educational opportunities by broadening students’ abilities to pursue knowledge, communicate effectively, understand humanity, employ creativity, and identify and solve problems in order to engage in informed, thoughtful, and ethical citizenry. Foundational learning is not directly related to a student’s formal technical, vocational, or professional preparation; it is a part of every student’s course of study, regardless of a student’s area of emphasis.
HLC requires all courses to be assessed. Some courses are considered foundational, and others provide reinforcement of our Institutional Learning Outcomes. Foundational Learning Courses require an in-depth exploration of the ILO and must be taught by someone meeting the qualifications: a master’s degree in the discipline or subfield OR a master’s degree plus 18 graduate hours in the discipline or subfield (unless an exception is approved by the Curriculum Committee and Outcomes Assessment Committee). Courses traditionally known as general education courses must apply to be a Foundational Learning Course; otherwise, they will not be included in the appropriate ILO category course list.
Specifications for a Foundational Learning Course
• Foundational Learning Courses provide a foundational, introductory study of a subject/area.
• Foundational Learning Courses are tied to the Institutional Learning Outcomes but not necessarily to the student’s major.
• Foundational Learning Courses assume little to no previous knowledge of a subject/discipline.
• Foundational Learning Courses can have prerequisites (such as ENGL 101 being the prerequisite for ENGL 102, etc).
Any course that wants to be designated as a Foundational Learning Course should apply using the appropriate form. The course’s home division, then either the HFASS or STEM Division (if needed), followed by the Curriculum Committee and the Outcomes Assessment Committee, will review the Course Application and either return it to the faculty with feedback or approve the course as a Foundational Learning Course. Each time that a Foundational submits their assessment data, they will also be reviewed to verify that they still meet the qualifications designated by the Institutional Learning Outcome.
Institutional Student Learning Categories, Outcomes, and Medthods of Assessment
| Institutional Student Learning Categories | Institutional Student Learning Outcomes; Graduates will be able to... | Courses and Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetics, Creativity, and Appreciation ART, ENGL, MUSI, and THEA | Demonstrate knowledge of the elements, terminology, genres, and/or styles involved in the creative expression of the Fine or Performing Arts and develop, apply, and combine skills in order to describe, analyze, produce, or perform a body of aesthetic work. | Foundational Learning Courses offered; Assessment occurs primarily through Foundational (and eventually Reinforcement) Learning Courses |
| Critical Thinking | Demonstrate the ability to analyze and assess thinking processes to develop stronger thinking skills. | No Required Foundational Learning Courses; Assessment occurs through a critical thinking exam as students enter and leave the college |
| Ethics | Identify ethical behaviors (based in sound ethical theories) and responsible citizenship in a variety of personal, academic, and professional contexts. | No Required Foundational Learning Courses; Assessment occurs through an ethics exam as students enter and leave the college. |
| Human Communication and Interaction COMM | Demonstrate the ability to create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context; critically analyze messages; accomplish communicative goals (self-efficacy); and explain the relationship between culture and communication. | Foundational Learning Courses offered; Assessment occurs through Foundational (and eventually Reinforcement) Learning Courses |
| People and Their Worlds HIST, GEOG, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, and SOC | Demonstrate cross-cultural awareness and understanding through political, historical, psychological, sociological, or philosophical disciplines and/or study of the self. | Foundational Learning Courses offered; Assessment occurs primarily through Foundational (and eventually Reinforcement) Learning Courses |
| Quantitative Reasoning MATH | Demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply the correct mathematical, statistical and/or computational strategies to solve quantitative problems arising from real-world and/or theoretical contexts, craft appropriate conclusions based on numerical information, and clearly communicate those solutions in a variety of formats (graphs/models, tables, formulas, mathematical equations, written explanations, etc., as appropriate). | Foundational Learning Courses offered; Assessment occurs primarily through Foundational (and eventually Reinforcement) Learning Courses |
| Scientific Inquiry BIOL, CHEM, ENVR, GEOL, PHYS, and PSCI | Demonstrate the ability to apply systematic methods of analysis to the natural and physical world, understand scientific knowledge as empirical, and refer to data as a basis for conclusions. | Foundational Learning Courses offered; Assessment occurs primarily through Foundational (and eventually Reinforcement) Learning Courses |
| Writing and Rhetoric ENGL | Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly, cohesively, and effectively in writing for a particular audience, purpose, and mode. | Foundational Learning Courses offered; Assessment occurs through Foundational (and eventually Reinforcement) Learning Courses |
| Due to program hour limitations, some AAS students may miss one ILO. | ||
Rubrics
Rubric information can be found in WVU Parkersburg’s Assessment Manual, linked below.