To: Faculty Senate
From: Senate Undergraduate Council
Date: November 23, 1999
Re: Resolution on Student Learning Outcomes
Whereas the Faculty Senate passed a resolution on February 4, 1997 requiring all new courses and new course proposals to include a section on student learning outcomes and methods of assessment, and
Whereas the CHE Middle States Accreditation process recommends that syllabi contain student learning outcomes and assessment methods
Be it resolved that:
All courses offered for credit to meet a degree requirement should have a course of study on file in the department office and a syllabus distributed to students.
Be it further resolved that:
The syllabus is the document defined as an outline of the main points of a course of study that is distributed by the instructor to students in his/her class. The syllabus will include the following items:
- Title of course
- Department and secretary's tel. number/e-mail
- Semester offered
- Faculty member's name, office hours, tel. number, e-mail address
- Required texts and suggested readings or other materials
- Course objectives [at least those that appear in the course of study]
- Topical outline of course content
- Teaching methods [lecture, student led colloquia, et al.]
- Course expectations:
- Reading assignments
- Tentative timetable for submission of written or creative work
- Attendance
- Participation in labs/workshops [where required]
- Examinations [e.g. make-up policy]
- Participation in class
- Grading and other methods for assessing student academic performance
- Misc: assignments, due dates, academic support services, et al.
- Student learning outcomes: "statements of actual performance expected of students
as a result of the teaching/learning process, performances that are assessable."
[WPU Assessment Committee]
Be it further resolved that the document on file in the various department offices shall be known as the course of study. This document will include the following items:
- Title of course
- Description of course consistent with the WPUNJ catalog
- Course prerequisites
- Course objectives
- Topical outline of content
- Guidelines/suggestions for teaching methods and student learning activities
- Guidelines/suggestions for student learning outcomes
- Guidelines/suggestions for student assessment
- Suggested texts and readings
- Bibliography of supportive texts or other materials
- Preparer's name and date
- Reviser's name and date
back to Senate Home Page