Institutional Learning Outcomes

Jefferson Community College affirms its view of education as an ongoing continuum of personal, intellectual, emotional and social growth. This view recognizes the student’s need to acquire substantive knowledge, the need to develop personal and intellectual resources fundamental to evaluation and assessment, and the need to develop the ability to communicate to others the processes of this effort.

To enable students to gain the knowledge and skills essential to be successful within their academic and professional pursuits, Jefferson Community College program graduates will demonstrate achievement of each of our Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs), which comprise the college’s general education program.

Jefferson Community College’s ILOs are supported by the State University of New York (SUNY) General Education Requirements and the standards established by our accrediting body, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Graduates shall...

1. Utilize effective oral and written communication skills. (Communication – Oral and Written)

Within coursework, students will achieve the following knowledge and skills

research a topic, develop an argument, and organize supporting details;
demonstrate coherent college-level communication (written and oral) that informs, persuades, or otherwise engages with an audience;
evaluate communication for substance, bias, and intended effect; and

demonstrate the ability to revise and improve written and oral communication.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the methods used in the natural and physical world and apply these methods. (Scientific Reasoning)

Within coursework, students will demonstrate scientific reasoning applied to the natural world, including

an understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of data analysis or mathematical modeling; and
application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences.

3. Collect, synthesize, and evaluate ideas, information, and data to formulate well-reasoned arguments, and derive conclusions. (Critical Thinking and Reasoning)

Within coursework, students will achieve the following knowledge and skills

clearly articulate an issue or problem;
identify, analyze, and evaluate ideas, data, and arguments as they occur in their own or others’ work;
acknowledge limitations such as perspective and bias; and
develop well-reasoned (logical) arguments to form judgments and/or draw conclusions.

4. Apply quantitative methods to build mathematical models that represent data to draw inferences. (Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning)

Within coursework, students will achieve the following knowledge and skills

interpret and draw inferences from appropriate mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, or schematics;
represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically, or verbally as appropriate; and
employ quantitative methods such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or statistics to solve problems.

5. Determine and utilize technology appropriate to perform fundamental tasks relevant to the degree program. (Technological Competency)

Specific knowledge and skill requirements are established within each respective program.

6. Access, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information effectively using a variety of sources. (Information Literacy)

Within coursework, students will achieve the following competencies

locate information effectively using tools appropriate to their need and discipline;
evaluate information with an awareness of authority, validity, and bias; and
demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of information use, creation, and dissemination.

7. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse people, cultures, and perspectives within a global society and identify the importance of values, ethics, and social responsibility. (Ethics, Values, Diversity, and Global Learning)

Within coursework, students will achieve the following knowledge and skills

Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

describe the historical and contemporary societal factors that shape the development of individual and group identity involving race, class, and gender;
analyze the role that complex networks of social structures and systems play in the creation and perpetuation of the dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and opportunity; and
apply the principles of rights, access, equity, and autonomous participation to past, current, or future social justice action.

US History and Civic Engagement

demonstrate understanding of United States’ society and/or history, including the diversity of individuals and communities that make up the nation;
understand the role of individual participation in US communities and government; and
apply historical and contemporary evidence to draw, support, or verify conclusions.

World History and Global Awareness

demonstrate knowledge of a broad outline of world history and/or the development of the distinctive features of at least one civilization or culture in relation to other regions of the world; and
demonstrate an understanding of the structures, systems, and interrelationships among civilizations and cultures within historical and/or contemporary contexts, and their impact on wellbeing and sustainability.

Humanities

demonstrate knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least one of the humanities; and
recognize and analyze nuance and complexity of meaning through critical reflections on text, visual images, or artifacts.

Social Sciences

describe major concepts and theories of at least one discipline in the social sciences; and
demonstrate an understanding of the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena.

World Languages

exhibit basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a world language; and
demonstrate knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language they are studying.

Approved Courses

Specific Jefferson Community College courses approved as meeting the ILOs, competencies, and knowledge and skills learning outcomes defined within our ILOs and by SUNY are also listed on SOAR (Student Online Access to Records).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I am not planning to transfer to a SUNY college. Do I need to worry about completing the Institutional Learning Outcomes?

All colleges have some form of general education requirements. You should review the requirements at all potential transfer institutions early in order to best prepare yourself for transfer.

I plan to transfer to a SUNY school. What advice can you give me?

SUNY four-year institutions expect students to complete the entire SUNY General Education Requirement (30 credits) as part of their AA or AS degree program prior to transfer. If you know where you plan to transfer within SUNY, you should seek advisement on the best set of courses to take as many individual SUNY campuses also have local general education requirements which could significantly impact optimal course selection. One helpful resource is the SUNY Transfer Website for General Education.

Will the General Education courses I take at Jefferson count as General Education at another SUNY College?

If you earn a grade of D or higher in a SUNY General Education course, you will have satisfied the general education component for that course at every SUNY campus, however in order to earn course transfer credit a grade of C will be required.

Can I take more than one course from a knowledge and skill area?

Yes, you may. If you plan to transfer to another SUNY Institution you should refer to that institution’s website to make sure you select the best set of courses to complete. The SUNY Transfer Website for General Education contains links to General Education information for each SUNY University Center, University College, and Technology College.