General Education Program

General Education Program

Upon completion of the general education course pattern, in addition to the area-specific outcomes, students should be able to:

• Use communication skills appropriate to the audience and purpose
• Use computations skills and various aspects of technology appropriate to the task
• Use cognitive skills to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate ideas and information
• Demonstrate understanding of different cultures
• Demonstrate self-management, maturity, and growth

Mission Statement

General Education at Merced College introduces students to the means through which people comprehend the modern world. Students must possess certain basic principles, concepts and methodologies unique to and shared by different fields of study.     College-educated persons need to use this knowledge when evaluating and appreciating the physical environment, the culture, and the society in which they live. Most importantly, this education should lead to a better self-understanding, and encompasses the “Essential Education” that students will receive and take home from their experiences both in and out of the classroom at Merced College.

In Spring 2014, the Merced College Academic Senate determined the college will use the  Institutional Student Learning Outcomes as Merced College General Education Learning Outcomes, or GELOs, to evaluate the General Education Program.

Currently, the Academic Senate chooses a single GE outcome for assessment in a given school year over a 5 year cycle.

• Steps in Assessing a GE Program
• 2014-15 Computation GELO information
• 2015-16 Global GELO Assessment Plans
• GELO Shots

GE Program Trends

General Education Program Trends

• 2016 survey of graduating students on their opinions at achieving the outcomes for the General Education program
• GE Program – Instructional Demographics – Information about the instructional staffing and student success for courses included in the GE Program from 2010-2015
• GE Program – Student  Demographics – Information about the student population taking courses in the GE program from 2010-2015

Steps in General Education Learning Outcome Assessment

1. Verify activities related to the GE Learning Outcome
2. Define the GE Learning Skills
3. Determine how the GE learning outcome will be assessed
4. Collect assessment data
   
5. Analyze results from the assessments
6. GELO action plan  

• Merced College would like to form a “GELO Academy” – A place where faculty and staff can plan assessment of each GELO in more detail and expand the General Education dialogue across the campus.