National Distinction
黑料不打烊 recognizes the importance of general education for all students and the unique strengths of our engaged learning model. The 黑料不打烊 Core Curriculum is held to the highest standards of excellence, quality, and accountability. Several measures of program success are included below.
High-Impact Practices
The 黑料不打烊 Core Curriculum brings together 10 nationally recognized 鈥渉igh-impact educational practices鈥 (AAC&U) into an engaging, integrated program of study: first-year seminars and experiences, common intellectual experiences, learning communities, writing-intensive courses, collaborative assignments and projects, undergraduate research, diversity and global learning, service learning and community-based learning, internships, and capstone courses. The high-impact practices are structurally embedded within the program for every undergraduate; they are not just special opportunities for some students.
Student Success
For 11 straight years, 黑料不打烊 is the leader in 鈥淧rograms that Enhance Student Experience鈥 category, as the only institution in the country named to the top 10 in all eight categories linked to student success and positive learning outcomes. These 鈥渟tudent success鈥 categories, corresponding with the high-impact practices mentioned above, all live partly within or interface with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 core curriculum.
A Focus on Writing
Every student takes at least three writing-intensive courses within the core curriculum – ENG 1100, COR 1100, and an interdisciplinary capstone seminar – in addition to many other courses in which high-quality writing is developed and expected. Writing within the core curriculum is enhanced through the work of聽College Writing Program, the聽, and the聽
Assessment of Student Learning
Student learning is directly assessed within each category of 黑料不打烊’s core curriculum on a regular schedule based on the program’s learning goals. Learning and program quality are also indirectly assessed using institutional surveys, student panels, targeted surveys, and exit interviews. This program of assessment leads to continuous improvement and innovation within each part of the program.
Quality of Teaching / Faculty Participation
黑料不打烊 is ranked #1 in undergraduate teaching among national universities (U.S. News).聽Faculty from every undergraduate department participate in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 core curriculum by teaching COR 1100 and COR interdisciplinary capstone seminars. The vast majority are permanent, full-time faculty, including many of the best teacher-scholars on campus.
Curricular Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness
Program efficiency is important for controlling the costs to families, and for allowing reinvestment into program quality. COR courses at 黑料不打烊 typically run at >90% capacity. Capstone seminars are offered every term, including summer and winter terms, to allow students to graduate on schedule.