Association of American Colleges and Universities

In an economy fueled by innovation, the capabilities developed through a liberal education have become Americas most valuable economic asset.

Narrow Learning is Not Enough The Essential Learning Outcomes Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World Intellectual and Practical Skills Personal and Social Responsibility Integrative Learning

A New Framework for Excellence Principle One Aim Highand Make Excellence Inclusive Principle Two Give Students a Compass Principle Three Teach the Arts of Inquiry and Innovation Principle Four Engage the Big Questions Principle Five Connect Knowledge with Choices and Action Principle Six Foster Civic, Intercultural, and Ethical Learning Principle Seven Assess Students Ability to Apply Learning to Complex Problems

How Should Colleges Prepare Students To Succeed In Todays Global Economy? Key findings from survey among 305 business leaders and 510 recent college graduates conducted November 2 – December 5, 2006 for The Association of American Colleges and Universities HART RESEARCH P e t e r D ASSOTESCIA

Balance of Broad Knowledge And Specific Skills Preferred Which of the following should be the main objective for our nation s colleges and universities? Focusing primarily on providing well-rounded education Focusing primarily on providing knowledge and skills in a specific field Focusing on providing a balance of both Depends/not sure

Employers On Importance Of College Education To Business And The Country % who say colleges play a very important role Ensuring U.S. ability to compete in the global economy Ensuring my companys ability to compete successfully Ensuring U.S. companies ability to develop innovative new products and services * 76% believe innovation is a very important factor in the growth and strength of the U.S. economy.

63% of employers agree that too many recent college graduates do not have the skills to be successful in todays global economy. Employers Express Concern About Skill Level of College Graduates

Most Important Skills Employers Look For In New Hires Teamwork skills Critical thinking/ reasoning Oral/written communication Ability to assemble/ organize information Innovative/thinking creatively Able to work with numbers/statistics Foreign language proficiency Recent Grads* 38% 37% 10% 21% 4% 6% * Skills/abilities recent graduates think are the two most important to employers

Employers Endorse Key Elements Of Liberal Education % saying colleges should put more emphasis on each learning outcome Concepts and new developments in science & technology Teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate with others in diverse group settings The ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings through internships or other hands-on experiences The ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing Critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills Global issues and developments and their implications for the future The ability to locate, organize, and evaluate information from multiple sources The ability to be innovative and think creatively 82% 76% 73% 72% 73% 70%

How important is it for colleges and universities to provide the type of education described below? This particular approach to a four-year college education provides both broad knowledge in a variety of areas of study and more in-depth knowledge in a specific major or field of interest. It also helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, as well as intellectual and practical skills that span all areas of study, such as communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings.

Not sure Less/not important Fairly important Very important * 76% of employers would recommend this type of education to a young person they know. How important is it for colleges and universities to provide this type of education (see previous slide)? Business Leaders

Not sure Less/not important Fairly important Very important How important is it for colleges and universities to provide this type of education (see previous slide)? Recent Graduates

How Should Colleges Prepare Students To Succeed In Todays Global Economy? Key findings from survey among 305 business leaders and 510 recent college graduates conducted November 2 – December 5, 2006 for The Association of American Colleges and Universities HART RESEARCH P e t e r D ASSOTESCIA

Effective Educational Practices First-Year Seminars and Experiences Common Intellectual Experiences Learning Communities Writing-Intensive Courses Collaborative Assignments and Projects Science as Science Is Done/Undergraduate Research Diversity/Global Learning Service Learning, Community-Based Learning Internships Capstone Courses and Projects

Impact of Educationally Purposeful Activities on First Academic Year GPA by Pre-College Achievement Level

Impact of Educationally Purposeful Activities on First Academic Year GPA by Race/Ethnicity

Impact of Educationally Purposeful Activities on the Probability of Returning for the Second Year of College by Race

We value what we measure Wise decisions are needed about what to measure in the context of campus mission, values, and desired outcomes. If you dont measure it, you cant manage it… If you dont measure it, you cant manage it…

Association of American Colleges and Universities