University Studies Program
Intellectual Community (I)
(August 26, 2002)
(updated January 9, 2003)
Definition:
Courses that fulfill the Intellectual Community requirement of University Studies provide
students with an introduction to the purpose and philosophy of higher education. These
academic, content-based courses, designed for first-year students, focus on the criticalthinking skills necessary to understand, analyze, and produce knowledge within the
framework of the discipline or area of inquiry in which the course is offered.
Rationale:
The University of Wyoming is committed to helping its entering first-year students to
participate successfully in the intellectual community and to develop skills important in
life beyond the university. To achieve these fundamental goals, Intellectual Community
(I) courses are designed to develop students’ critical-thinking skills; to acculturate
students into the academic environment; to introduce students to cultural and other
diversity issues at UW or within the disciplinary or interdisciplinary framework of the
course; and to introduce students to the intellectual expectations of the university. All I
courses will be academic and content-based. They will be offered by individual
departments, programs, and colleges, or through interdisciplinary collaboration. Course
content will be based on the knowledge areas of the departments, programs, colleges, or
interdisciplinary areas offering the course.
In addition to the first-year course, UW will provide entering first-year students with an
introduction to the following student-success strategies and resources during a required
orientation session and/or welcome week: time management, health and personal safety
issues, money management, and campus resources.
Outcomes:
University Studies Program assessment focuses on the program and on improving overall
student learning. Therefore, outcomes relate to I as a part of USP, not to each individual
course that meets the I requirement. Still, in all I courses students will:
1. discover the primary intellectual activities of the discipline or interdisciplinary
area, i.e., the major questions addressed, the curricular requirements, and the
career options
2. learn to think critically so that they can understand, analyze, and produce new
knowledge both within the university and beyond
3. explore the concept of information literacy and demonstrate the ability to gain
access to information using a variety of information literacy skills
4. understand and evaluate information effectively and efficiently
5. become acquainted with diversity (cultural, ethnic, religious, etc.) at UW or
within the discipline or interdisciplinary area of the course
Criteria for Approval of University Studies Courses:
Intellectual Community (I) courses will be academic and content-based, and will
encourage students to investigate learning styles and improve study strategies. In ways
that are used and valued by the given discipline or interdisciplinary area, these courses
will incorporate a variety of pedagogies that encourage students to develop criticalthinking skills, that provide formal and informal assignments so as to allow students to
produce new knowledge, that introduce the concept of information literacy, and that
incorporate technology.
I courses may be approved for 1–4, or more, credit hours to accommodate the differing
needs of students, departments, and program; however, all courses in this category must
meet the established criteria regardless of credit hours. Courses may be offered by
departments, programs, colleges, or interdisciplinary groups throughout the university
with course content based on the knowledge areas of those offering the course.
Though orientation activities are not incorporated into the I course, the Intellectual
Community program of UW will offer a separate orientation and welcome week for
entering first-year students. This orientation will include an introduction to the following
student-success strategies and resources: time management, health and personal safety
issues, money management, and campus resources.
Recommendation:
To promote dialogue, these courses will preferably have small enrollments—nineteen
students or so--and generally be taught by experienced faculty members and academic
professionals.
Process:
Using the University Studies Program criteria and outcomes, a sub-committee of three
selected from the membership of the University Studies Committee will evaluate each
course submitted for credit within the Intellectual Community (I) category and will make
recommendations to the full committee.
University Studies Program
Criteria Review Sheet
Intellectual Community (I)
In order for first-year students to successfully participate in the intellectual community
and to develop skills important in life beyond the university, Intellectual Community (I)
courses are designed to develop students’ critical-thinking skills; to acculturate students
into the academic environment, including exposure to cultural and other diversity issues;
and to introduce students to the intellectual expectations of the university. All I courses
will be academic and content-based. They will be offered by individual departments,
programs, and colleges, or through interdisciplinary collaboration. Course content will
be based on the knowledge areas of the departments, programs, colleges, or
interdisciplinary areas offering the course.
In all I courses students will:
1. discover the primary intellectual activities of the discipline or interdisciplinary
area, i.e., the major questions addressed, the curricular requirements, and the
career options
2. learn to think critically so that they can understand, analyze, and produce new
knowledge both within the university and beyond
3. explore the concept of information literacy and demonstrate the ability to gain
access to information using a variety of information literacy skills
4. understand and evaluate information effectively and efficiently
5. become acquainted with diversity (cultural, ethnic, religious, etc.) at UW or
within the discipline or interdisciplinary area of the course
Course Number & Prefix:
Credit Hours:
Course Title:
Please attach a detailed course syllabus that includes the objectives or outcomes for the
course and the means to assess the extent that students reach them.
List any prerequisites:
What is the anticipated student/teacher ratio?
1.
What academic content area(s) will form the basis for this I course?
2.
Using information from the syllabus, please describe how this course meets the
learning goals (outcomes) and criteria for the I category.
A. How will students discover the primary intellectual activities of the
discipline or interdisciplinary area, i.e., the major questions addressed, the
curricular requirements, and the career options?
B. How will students learn to think critically so that they can understand,
analyze, and produce new knowledge both within the course and beyond?
C. How will students explore the concept of information literacy and
demonstrate the ability to gain access to information using a variety of
information literacy skills?
D. How will students learn to understand and evaluate information effectively
and efficiently?
E. How will students become acquainted with diversity (cultural, ethnic,
religious, etc.) at UW or within the discipline or interdisciplinary area of
the course?
3.
Explain how the assessment method(s) used for this course demonstrate student
achievement of the learning outcomes for the Intellectual Community category.
Explain how this assessment might provide information that can be used to
improve accomplishment of desired learning outcomes.
4.
Does this course include an embedded USP component?
A. If yes, which embeddable component is included, and are the outcomes of
the embedded component appropriately addressed in the course proposal?
5.
What other factors should the committee consider?