MCC values and encourages the systematic assessment and improvement of teaching and learning. The College's faculty-led Outcomes Assessment Committee has coordinated the implementation of a Collegewide Program for the Assessment of Student Learning.  The Outcomes Assessment Committee has stated the following purposes for the assessment of student learning:

• improving the teaching and learning process
• improving programs and courses
• providing accountability to the community
• providing data for informed decision-making

Every degree program at the College has a Program Assessment Plan that guides program faculty in the collection of data to improve curricula, teaching methodologies and delivery methods.  This assessment program is a continuous improvement process to enhance student learning.  As the implementation of the Assessment Program progresses throughout the College and as more data are available for improvements in the teaching and learning process, the ultimate benefactor will be students.
Students will be asked to complete assessment activities as part of this important assessment process.

GENERAL EDUCATION RATIONALE

General Education Course Options

MCC recognizes the importance of preparing students for success in both their personal and professional lives.  MCC students develop, across the curriculum, both the knowledge base of a program of study as well as the career skills needed to become a productive individual, an effective and contributing team member, and a person who appreciates the importance of lifelong learning and self improvement.  Vital to the preparation for life-long learning skills is the development of competencies in:

• Communication – An effective communicator expresses thoughts, ideas, and feelings in both written and oral modes in order to be successful in their education and professional career.  This requires students to develop critical reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills early in their college experience and to have these skills reinforced throughout their program curricula.  An effective communicator:
• Engages in the four stages of the communication process: collecting, shaping, drafting and revising.
• Selects, organizes and presents details to support a main idea.
• Participates in groups using a variety of collaborative techniques.
• Uses knowledge of target audience expectations and values to shape a text.
• Uses various techniques in writing and speaking including authority, point-of-view, style and voice.
• Employs good mechanics and word usage choice.
• Critical Thinking – Critical thinking stresses a rational process, demonstrates logical inquiry and problem solving, and leads to an evaluative decision or action.  It plays an important part in personal, social, and professional development.  It helps learners uncover bias and prejudice in ideas.  Critical thinking encourages learners to develop a willingness to consider different points of view and to explore possibilities.  It underlies the basic elements of communication, writing, speaking, and listening.  A critical thinker:
• Interprets and evaluates statements, theories, problems and observations from different points of view or perspectives.
• Questions the validity of assumptions, evidence and data.
• Assess the value or importance of positions, policies, and formulated solutions.
• Employs the logic of argument.
• Information Literacy – Information literacy is a set of abilities to recognize when information is needed; to retrieve, manage and organize the needed information; and to locate, evaluate, and use technology in the gathering of this information. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, to become more self-directed, and to assume greater control over their own learning.  An information literate learner:
• Determines the extent of information needed.
• Critically evaluates information and its sources.
• Incorporates selected information into a personal knowledge base.
• Uses information ethically and legally.
• Utilizes software to manage, present and store information.
• Numeracy - From balancing a checkbook to managing a business, numbers play an integral part in life experiences. Success in both a career field and personal experiences involves the effective use and understanding of numbers. Numeracy is the ability to think about, express and evaluate information in quantitative terms.  A numerically literate individual:
• Interprets, analyzes and solves basic numerical problems.
• Estimates the reasonableness of an answer.
• Interprets, evaluates and presents graphic/tabular data.
• Scientific Inquiry - Science plays a vital role in today’s society from environmental issues to health issues to economic issues. To assess the validity of scientific information, students should be able to effectively evaluate and use the scientific process.  A scientific inquirer:
• Applies the scientific inquiry process to a situation.
• Communicates the importance of science in daily life.
• Evaluates societal issues from a scientific perspective.
• Makes informed judgments about science-related topics and/or policies.
• Social Cultural Awareness - Social and cultural awareness provides the basis to understand how each of us shapes, and is shaped by, our culture and society, as well as recognizing and understanding the obligation to engage in ethical, safe, and legal behaviors.  A socially and culturally aware individual:
• Appreciates the influence of history, geography, the arts, humanities and the environment on individual cultural development.
• Distinguishes subjective opinions and ideology from objective findings and data.
• Recognizes social and individual biases.
• Develops personal and social responsibility and participates as an engaged citizen.
• Recognizes individual differences, values diversity and displays global awareness.

It is in this spirit that the College promotes the importance of general education. General education core requirements must be completed by every student that completes a program at MCC. In most programs, general education requirements are already determined; in programs where specific courses are not outlined, the student should use the list below of approved general education courses to complete minimum requirements for general education.