University of North Florida

What are Academic Learning Compacts?

An Academic Learning Compact (ALC) is an expression of what students will know and be able to do upon completion of an academic program.

More specifically, ALCs will:

1. Identify, at a minimum, the expected core learning outcomes for baccalaureate program graduates in the areas of

i) content/discipline knowledge and skills;

ii) oral and written communication skills;

iii) critical thinking skills; and

2. Identify corresponding assessments used to determine how well student learning matches the articulated expectations.

What are the UNF policies and procedures concerning Academic Learning Compacts?

Statement of Policy

Each undergraduate academic major offered by the University of North Florida and listed on the State University system Academic Degree Inventory will have a published Academic Learning Compact (ALC) which can be viewed by students and other interested parties. This Academic Learning Compact will clearly articulate learning outcomes for program graduates. These outcomes must address, at a minimum, content/discipline-specific knowledge and skills, oral and written communication skills, and critical thinking skills. The compacts will also include the assessments that faculty will use to judge how student learning matches expected outcomes. Faculty members serving the program will ensure that the curriculum includes the instructional content to support student attainment of the identified outcomes. This will often require an interface between departmental and general education faculties.

It is the responsibility of the academic departments to ensure that each ALC is kept up-to-date and to create an ALC for each new undergraduate program proposal. ALCs for proposed programs will be submitted prior to final program approval.

Statement of Procedures

The following procedures will be used in implementing this policy:

1. As of December 2005, the faculty in each academic major will post to the UNF website an Academic Learning compact for that major. This ALC will be available for student review at this time.

2. The ALC will include outcomes expected of program graduates. These must include outcomes in the content/discipline, communication and critical thinking domains. The ALC must also include a description of the assessments which will be used to measure if students in the major are achieving these outcomes. These assessments must include external validation of student or program-graduate’s accomplishments.

In this context, external validation means assessment which goes beyond a faculty member grading the work completed by a student in a course he or she taught. External validation might include a departmental faculty committee of faculty review of student work completed in a capstone course. External validation could also mean students taking a national or state examination in their respective discipline or tracking student success on certification or licensure examinations.

3. New program proposals must be accompanied by a draft ALC for the program. These ALCs will be reviewed and approved by the Provost.

4. As faculty change programs of study or make other curricular modifications within a major they are obligated to update the corresponding ALC to ensure that it is current.

5. Faculty will review the results of the assessments listed in the ALC on an annual basis.

6. Faculty teaching in the major will use the results of the assessments identified in the ALC during their respective program reviews in determining program effectiveness. The results from the ALCs will also be used in meeting SACS standards.

7. The Office of Academic Affairs will conduct a yearly audit to ensure that ALCs are posted on the UNF website.

8. When appropriate, faculty may use outcomes developed for professional accrediting bodies as part of their ALCs. If these do not include all of the key elements required in an ALC, they must be supplemented with outcomes addressing the missing areas (e.g., communication, critical thinking).

9. When appropriate, faculty may use assessment systems developed for professional accrediting bodies as part of their ALCs. If these assessment systems do not include all of the required elements (e.g., external validation) they must be supplemented to include the missing element(s).