Background

worked together in the Council of Enhancing Student Learning. The council’s goal was to develop Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) that would define what each student should be able to do by the time they receive their bachelor’s degree. SLOs are measurable outcomes that are used to improve areas in the curriculum. By the time you graduate from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, you are expected to identify, define, and solve problems. Graduates should locate and critically evaluate information. They should master a body of knowledge and a mode of inquiry as well as understand diverse philosophies and cultures within and across societies. Students should communicate effectively, understand the role of creativity, innovation, discovery, and expression across disciplines. Finally, they should have acquire skills for effective citizenship and life-long learning. Program evaluation allows institutions to grow, enhance programs and identify gaps. Ruhland and Brewer (2001) argue that learning outcomes “should not only demonstrate what students know, but should also capture the changes that occur in their cognitive and affective development as a result of their college experiences. ” Thus, an effective learning outcomes needs significant understanding of how to best relate the course content to our types of students and how to make the course meaningful to our student needs and life experiences. Currently the program evaluation method to measur