Northern Illinois University

Northern Today

Foundations of Excellence: Learning Dimension

April 20, 2009

The Learning Dimension is currently reviewing the first-year learning experiences that develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors to meet NIU’s philosophy and mission as an institution of higher education.

This committee is examining both in-class and out-of-class experiences, the learning associated with those experiences and the ways in which that learning is documented and/or assessed. The committee members are in the process of collecting information from offices and programs across campus that interact with first-year students (course/program descriptions and related materials, publications, brochures and Web site pages).

The committee members will:

  • identify patterns in the student and faculty/staff survey results;
  • take an active part in the review of and discussions about university and/or programmatic documents;
  • conduct interviews, focus groups, etc.;
  • recommend action plans; and
  • write a committee report on the dimension.

For additional information about, to participate in, or to provide information for the Learning Dimension, contact co-chairs Paul Stoddard (pstoddard@niu.edu) or Kelly Wesener (kwesener@niu.edu).