Southwest Texas Junior CollegeCore Curriculum

Dr. Cheryl Sanchez, Dr. Mark Underwood, Dr. Renee Zimmerman, and Bobby AyalaSouthwest Texas Junior CollegeSpring 2015 Convocation

Presentation Objectives

•Provide a history of the Core and Core revision process

•Discuss new Core Objectives•Identify some unresolved issues

Background

•Texas Core Curriculum - Each institution of higher education that offers an undergraduate academic degree program shall develop its core curriculum by using the Board-approved purpose, core objectives, and foundational component areas of the Texas Core Curriculum.

Old Core

•Established in 1997▫42-46 SCH▫37 EEOs

•Why change the core?▫THECB wants the core to help students

build real world skills and capabilities

Philosophical ShiftOld Core

• Accumulate credits• Across a wide

academic background

• EEOs were unique to a discipline

New Core• Master six key skills• In a variety of

academic disciplines

• Core objectives are shared across the institution

Purposes of the Core

•Students will gain▫Knowledge of human cultures and physical

and natural world▫Principles of personal and social

responsibility▫Intellectual and practical skills

Workforce Report

•Interviewed▫400+ employers▫Expectations and experiences with

High School Graduates Jr College Graduates University Graduates

Workforce Report Skills• Basic Knowledge

▫ English▫ Reading/writing▫ Math▫ Science▫ Art▫ Social Studies

• Applied Skills▫ Critical Thinking▫ Communication▫ Quantitative

Reasoning▫ Teamwork▫ Personal and

Social Responsibility

Foundational Component Area

Core Objectives

Communication

Mathematics

Life and Physical Sciences

Language, Philosophy, & Culture

Creative Arts

American History

Government/Political Science

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Institutional Option

Critical Thinking

Communication

Empirical and Quantitative Skills

Teamwork

Personal Responsibility

Social Responsibility

Critical Thinking

•Includes▫Creative thinking and innovation▫Inquiry▫Analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of

information•Addressed in ALL core courses

Communication

•Effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas

•Includes▫Written communication▫Oral communication▫Visual communication

•Addressed in ALL core courses

Empirical and Quantitative

•Includes▫Manipulation and analysis of numerical

data or observable facts▫Create informed conclusions

•Addressed in Math, Science, and Social sciences

Teamwork

•Includes▫Ability to consider different points of view▫Ability to work with others towards a

shared goal•Addressed in Communication, Sciences,

and Fine Arts

Personal Responsibility

•Ability to connect personal choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision making

•Addressed in Communication, Language/Philosophy/Culture, History, Government

Social Responsibility

•Includes ▫Intercultural competence▫Civic responsibility▫Ability to engage in regional, national, and

global communities•Addressed in

Language/Philosophy/Culture, Fine Arts, History, Government, Social Sciences

SWTJC Core Curriculum

•Committee began meeting Spring 2012▫Matrices established

•Began Implementing Courses Fall 2012▫Guidelines also established for

implementation•New core will be implemented Fall 2014

Component II

•The assessment of the Core Curriculum is an evaluation of attainment of the Core Objectives. ▫A. Describe the institution’s process to

determine the appropriate level of attainment of each Core Objective.

▫B. Describe the institution’s plan for assessment of each Core Objective. Include the following components of the institution’s assessment plan:

▫Assessment methods explain the methodology (institutional portfolios,

embedded assessment, etc.), describe the measures (must include at least one direct measure), outline the frequency and timeline of assessment;

▫Criteria/Targets explain the criteria and targets for the level of

attainment of each Core Objective, include references to externally informed benchmarks;

▫Analysis explain how the results of the assessment will be

evaluated; and▫Actions and Follow-up

explain the process for improving student learning based on the assessment results.

22

Momentum Points Based on FY 2010 Data

Math Read/Write

1st

Math15

Credits30

CreditsTransf Assoc. Core Cert. Total

Points

Points 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2

SWTJC 336 316 794 1,954 1,110 404 414 114 212 6,798

State 31,062

32,084

89,244 240,167

143,082 41,079 46,234 13,932

20,200

778,791

Unresolved DifficultiesArtifact Submission•Common Naming system

Links• THECB submission Process:

http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/2808.PDF?CFID=33626535&CFTOKEN=92198239

• Quick Reference: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/2737.PDF?CFID=33626535&CFTOKEN=92198239

• Core curriculum assessment guidelines: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=24D2FE55-C9B7-419A-4D65413B13CD44ED

▫ (resources for assessments can also be found at the above site; Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) and Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (VALUE) )