Achieving Student Learning Outcomes
March 2012
How knowledgeable are faculty about the Core Curriculum?
The Core Curriculum website is online. The Core Curriculum committee thanks the 119 faculty who
responded to the recent Core Curriculum survey; we appreciate your feedback. According to the survey,
a large proportion of faculty reporting they are not knowledgeable about and/or are unable to rate the
Core. The committee believes this is problematic because the Core is intended to prepare students for
upper-level coursework and to enable programs to fulfill the expectations of the Profile of the Colorado
School of Mines Graduate. We welcome suggestions regarding strategies for increasing faculty members’
knowledge related to the Core curriculum.
To what extent do you believe you are knowledgeable about the course content for the following
courses?
5=Very
knowledgeable
4
3=Somewhat
knowledgeable
2
1=Not
knowledgeable
Freshman Orientation and Success
(CSM101)
31%
17%
10%
16%
26%
Physics I (PHGN100)
21%
31%
20%
7%
21%
Calculus I-III and Differential Equations
(MACS111/112/213/315)
20%
32%
18%
10%
20%
Physics II (PHGN200)
19%
28%
20%
11%
22%
Design EPICS I (EPIC151)
12%
14%
28%
18%
28%
Principles of Chemistry I (CHGN121)
12%
10%
32%
15%
32%
Nature & Human Values (LAIS100)
12%
5%
21%
24%
37%
Design EPICS II (EPIC251)
11%
14%
24%
22%
29%
Principles of Chemistry II (CHGN122)
11%
8%
27%
17%
37%
Humanities and Social Sciences (LAIS
or EBGN 3xx/4xx)
9%
10%
16%
29%
36%
Biological and Environmental Systems
(BELS101)
6%
8%
17%
26%
43%
Earth and Environmental Systems
(SYGN101)
5%
12%
18%
27%
38%
Principles of Economics (EBGN201)
4%
15%
34%
24%
25%
Human Systems (SYGN200)
4%
8%
20%
27%
42%
Intro to Computer Science (CSCI101)
3%
17%
15%
26%
39%
What do graduating seniors say about skills, abilities, and learning experiences?
In March, 205 students responded to the School-wide senior survey, resulting in a 51% response rate.
Note that not all departments participated in the survey, but participating departments represent 401
students (65% of the total number of undergraduate students who will graduate in May.)
To what extent did your education at Mines contribute to your development of the following
skills/abilities?
Retrieve and interpret technical information
Convey technical/scientific information, in writing, to a variety of
audiences
Communicate information graphically
Think critically about a wide range of cross-disciplinary issues
Orally communicate technical/scientific information to a variety of
audiences
Appreciate diverse approaches to solving society’s problems
Appreciate diverse approaches to understanding society’s problems
Develop a commitment to enhance the profession through leadership
and service
Adjust to an ever-changing professional environment
Work effectively in a diverse work environment
Be dedicated to stewardship of the environment
Work effectively in an international environment
Very
Much
Somewhat
Not at
All
80%
19%
1%
68%
64%
61%
28%
33%
33%
4%
3%
6%
57%
41%
38%
38%
50%
51%
6%
9%
11%
38%
37%
36%
31%
21%
48%
54%
53%
51%
48%
14%
10%
11%
18%
31%
How useful were the following experiences?
Courses in your major field of study
Field session/field camp
Laboratory experiences as a part of a course
Internship
Opportunities to apply classroom learning to "real life"
issues"
Capstone experience/project (including senior design)
Interactions with faculty outside of class (excluding
research)
Courses in the core curriculum
Research with a faculty member
Cooperative education
Competitions such as robotics, mining, concrete
canoe, etc.
Overseas/international study
Very
Useful
Somewhat
Useful
Not
Useful
Not
Applicable
84%
68%
52%
44%
15%
24%
42%
16%
1%
4%
6%
2%
0%
4%
1%
39%
44%
40%
45%
46%
8%
10%
4%
3%
40%
25%
25%
11%
44%
66%
13%
21%
6%
9%
0%
5%
11%
0%
62%
62%
8%
4%
12%
3%
5%
3%
74%
90%
This newsletter is published by the assessment office:
Kay Schneider, Director
kmschnei@mines.edu or 3087
http://inside.mines.edu/assessment