To:
Kwesi Aggrey, VCAA
George Bodmer, Chair. Faculty Organization
From: Vesna Kilibarda, Mary Ann Fischer, Co-chairs, General Education / Assessment
Committee
Date: April 29, 2008
IU Northwest General Education/Assessment Committee Report to VCAA and
Faculty Organization
The General Education/Assessment Committee met five times during the spring 2008
semester. We created the committee’s website http://www.iun.edu/~genednw/ where we
published all the approved documents, the five principles, their definitions, requirements
and student learning outcomes for Breadth of Learning Principle, the timeline and
reports. We kept an updated Oncourse website for faculty information as well.
The Faculty Organization adopted the resolution on requirements for principles 3, 4, and
5, as well as unit level responsibilities for assessment of those principles at the February
15, 2008 meeting. At the March 21, 2008 meeting of the Faculty Organization, the
Principle 3 student learning outcomes were adopted. We also developed student learning
outcomes for Principles 4 and 5. As a result of extensive faculty feedback, we will
present the resolutions on these outcomes to the Faculty Organization at its September
2008 meeting. The outcomes are attached to this document.
As a continuation of our writing initiatives, we hosted three workshops by writing
specialist Virginia Anderson. These were attended by deans, chairs, and faculty. We
sponsored two writing faculty members to attend the Conference on College Composition
and Communication and the purchase of materials for the Writing Center.
Next year we plan to create a process for designation and approval of courses that meet
intensive writing or advanced learning outcomes in all domains of Principle 1. We also
plan to revise and approve student learning outcomes for Principle 1 as a part of this
process. We urge deans, chairs, and faculty to take ownership of General Education and
its assessment process and revise their curriculums accordingly.
We recommend that as a part of a “Year of Writing” initiative, our committee sponsors
$500 travel stipends for faculty to attend writing in their discipline workshops, seminars,
or meetings. In return for the stipends, the faculty will report their experiences in a joint
CETL session at the end of the Spring 2009 semester.
To be submitted as two RESOLUTIONS at the September 2008 Faculty Organization
Meeting
Principle 4: Diversity Student Learning Outcomes
Definition: Valuing the diversity of human experience, as exemplified in race, color,
ethnicity, social class, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disabilities;
understanding how these categories are often used to create injustice; recognizing our
common human heritage and the interconnectedness of communities in the region, the
nation, and the world.
IUN students will:
 Understand and appreciate cultural diversity in a variety of contexts.

Demonstrate knowledge of the relationships between social structures, social
justice, and human rights.

Demonstrate knowledge of racial minority experiences and worldviews and the
manner in which they shape U.S. culture and the world.
Principle 5: Ethics and Citizenship Student Learning Outcomes
Definition: The application of the principles of ethics and governance to the larger
society, one’s immediate community, and to individual conduct on campus and in
society.
IUN students will:
 Reason effectively about matters that have ethical significance.

Apply ethical principles when making decisions.

Understand the responsibilities of being a citizen and develop strategies for
involvement in a democratic society.