Student Learning Outcomes

General Education Statement of Philosophy

The General Education Program at Rock Valley College is designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and habits reflected in the lives of educated persons and basic to all professions so that RVC students are capable of leading rewarding and responsible lives as productive, global citizens. The General Education Program offers varied opportunities for students “to develop the breadth of
knowledge and the expressive skills essential to more complex and in-depth learning throughout life” (adapted from the Illinois Articulation Initiative, 2000). With this philosophy as our focus, our general education courses are designed to help students achieve the following learning outcomes.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLO)

As a result of engaging in learning opportunities at Rock Valley College, students will develop knowledge and skills as defined by the following:

ISLO 1: Communication: Students will exchange ideas effectively in different settings and modalities. At RVC, Communication includes:

• 1.1 Written Communication
• 1.2 Oral Communication
• 1.3 Information Literacy
• 1.4 Quantitative Literacy
• 1.5 Teamwork

ISLO 2: Flexible Thinking: Students will expand their mindset by using experience, reason, problem solving, ingenuity, and research and data.

At RVC, Flexible Thinking includes:

• 2.1 Critical Thinking
• 2.2 Creative Thinking
• 2.3 Ethical Reasoning
• 2.4 Inquiry and Analysis
• 2.5 Problem Solving
• 2.6 Integrative and Applied Learning

ISLO 3: Cultural Competence: Students will develop an awareness of their own cultural values and how they differ from the cultural beliefs and values of others in a variety of contexts both local and global.

At RVC, Cultural Competence includes:

• 3.1 Global Learning
• 3.2 Intercultural Knowledge