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Liberal Arts Core Assessment Project

Overview

In 2016, the UNC Liberal Arts Council (the body that oversees the UNC general education program) initiated a project to improve assessment of student learning in the UNC Liberal Arts Core (LAC, the general education program at UNC). On behalf of the Liberal Arts Council, the Office of Assessment and a team of Faculty Assessment Fellows conducted a project from 2016 to 2018 to develop and pilot an assessment plan of the LAC. Because critical thinking was identified as a common learning outcome across multiple LAC disciplines and areas, it was selected as the key learning outcome for the pilot project. The project occurred in two phases. The findings from Phase 1 were used to develop the Phase 2 pilot assessment plan.

  • Phase 1 (2016-2017)
    • Identify methods used at other institutions to assess general education at a program-level
    • Identify how critical thinking learning outcomes are assessed in UNC LAC courses
  • Phase 2 (2017-2018)
    • Design and implement a pilot assessment plan of critical thinking for the LAC program
    • Evaluate the usefulness of the pilot and feasibility of scaling the pilot to the entire LAC

Project Background and Rationale

Frequently Asked Questions provides a summary of the background and rationale for the project.

Key Findings and Recommendations 

Key findings and recommendations are summarized in the project reports.

Project Team

  • Office of Assessment: Chad Bebee, Director
  • Faculty Assessment Liaisons:
    • Jeri Kraver, English -- Program Learning Outcomes
    • Heidi Muller, Communication Studies -- LAC Assessment
    • Kathie Records, Nursing -- Assessment Methods
    • Nancy Sileo, Special Education -- Program Learning Outcomes