Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 60.76
Liaison Brad Spanbauer
Submission Date March 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 6.15 / 8.00 Brad Spanbauer
Campus Sustainability Officer
Campus Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution adopted one or more sustainability learning outcomes that apply to the entire student body or, at minimum, to the institution's predominant student body?:
Yes

Which of the following best describes the sustainability learning outcomes?:
Sustainability-focused

A list of the institution level sustainability learning outcomes:

ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES
In 2007, UW Oshkosh’s Liberal Education Reform Team (LERT) adapted the American Association of Colleges & Universities list of essential learning outcomes for college students to suit the specific strengths of UW Oshkosh. These UW Oshkosh essential learning outcomes underpin general education on this campus. They are what every UW Oshkosh graduate will have competency in for life.

Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World
Through study in fine and performing arts, humanities, mathematics and science, and social science focused by engagement with big questions, both contemporary and enduring

Skills, Both Intellectual and Practical
Identification and objective evaluation of theories and assumptions
Critical and creative thinking
Written and oral communication
Quantitative literacy
Technology and information literacy
Teamwork, leadership and problem solving practiced extensively, across the curriculum, in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects and standards for performance

Responsibility, as Individuals and Communities
Knowledge of Sustainability and Its Applications
Civic Learning—local and global
Intercultural Knowledge and Competence
Ethical reasoning and action
Foundations and skills for lifelong learning developed through real-world challenges and active involvement with diverse communities

Learning: Integrated, Synthesized and Advanced
Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems.

University of Wisconsin System Shared Learning Goals for Baccalaureate Students:
Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Natural World including breadth of knowledge and the ability to think beyond one’s discipline, major, or area of concentration. This knowledge can be gained through the study of the arts, humanities, languages, sciences, and social sciences.

Critical and Creative Thinking Skills including inquiry, problem solving, and higher order qualitative and quantitative reasoning.

•Effective Communication Skills including listening, speaking, reading, writing, and information literacy.

•Intercultural knowledge and competence including the ability to interact and work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures; to lead or contribute support to those who lead; and to empathize with and understand those who are different than they are.

•Individual, Social and Environmental Responsibility including civic knowledge and engagement (both local and global), ethical reasoning, and action.


Total number of graduates from degree programs:
2,085

Number of graduates from degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
40

A brief description of how the figure above was determined:

All students regardless of discipline or college take courses through the University Studies program inclusive of a 3-course 'Quest' sequence in their first three semesters, of which, one course is focused on Sustainability. So all students will take at least one course focused on Sustainability as part of their general education, but it is likely that they will end up taking additional courses focused on Sustainability as part of their other general education courses.


A list of degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:

Quest 1, 2, and 3 Sustainability Signature Question Courses:
Knowledge of sustainability and its applications is the ability to understand local and global earth systems; the qualities of ecological integrity and the means to restore and preserve it; and the interconnection of ecological integrity, social justice and economic well-being.
Sustainability is about working towards a future in which all human beings can enjoy decent quality of life– good health, economic security, membership in strong and inclusive communities, the list goes on– while ensuring that we do not endanger the natural resources and environments upon which we depend. At its core, sustainability is about helping us live up to our fullest potential, as individuals and as a society. Making our way towards sustainability will involve addressing some very big and complicated problems– problems that will not have just single answers, or answers generated by single perspectives. Educating our students about sustainability means presenting them with multiple perspectives and teaching them how to critically evaluate the pros and cons, costs and consequences of the many options that lie before us. Sustainability is not about prescription, or about liberal or conservative points of view; it is about thoughtfully questioning, analyzing, and coming up with creative solutions. And isn’t this exactly what we want our students to be able to do?
First Year Experience: "Gain an understanding of their own role as members of a global community and their responsibility to participate in that community in a way that takes into account sustainability."
https://uwosh.edu/usp/teaching-in-the-usp/signature-questions/

Specific learning outcomes listed for programs include:
College of Nursing: "Social Justice – Upholding moral, legal, and humanistic principals. We strive to create relationships, structures, and resources for the equality of optimal access to needed information and services along with meaningful participation in decision-making."

College of Business Learning Goal: "Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of the implications and importance of ethical and sustainable business practices."

Environmental Studies: "Students will be able to critically analyze the concept of sustainability and its three pillars (economic security, social equity, ecological responsibility) and the way this concept is applied and used."
https://uwosh.edu/es/

Social Justice: "[..]critically examine the values that constitute social justice in theory and practice, understand the principles of effective social activism, formulate and evaluate policies that seek to address issues such as racism, violence, literacy, human rights, gender equity, gender expression, poverty, hunger, and conservation of the environment."
https://uwosh.edu/socialjustice/

Social Equity and Diversity Certificate (Sociology)
This certificate is a great for students interested in areas such as social services, organizational leadership, human resources, management, community organizing, health fields, population studies, teaching, and public administration who are seeking to further develop their intercultural knowledge and competency.
https://uwosh.edu/sociology/advising/curriculum/

Environmental Health
The environmental health major will position you for jobs related to community health, environmental testing and quality control. The overall goal of the Environmental Health major is to provide you a premium quality education and training of environmental health science and protection practitioners. The program’s learning objectives are aligned to the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) guidelines.
https://uwosh.edu/biology/undergraduate/majors/environmental-health/

Geography
Students will be able to recognize and analyze the environmental, social, and spatial connections between geography and globalization; demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the complexity and diversity of global cultures; demonstrate an understanding of the impact humans have on the environment at local and global scales and pathways that make this impact sustainable.
https://uwosh.edu/geography/our-program/

Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity in all of its wondrous chronological and geographic diversity and complexity. Anthropology introduces students to the variety and complexity of contemporary and past human societies and cultures. The goal of anthropology is to make sense out of that complexity and to understand the processes that have shaped and continue to shape the lives of people around the world. To accomplish this goal different anthropologists examine biological, archaeological, linguistic and cultural aspects of humanity striving collectively for integrated understanding.
https://uwosh.edu/anthropology/anthropology-program/

Geology
Geology, sometimes referred to as geoscience or earth science, is the study of structures and dynamics of natural land and water resources. Geologists seek to understand the history of our planet and its relevance to the needs of society. Geology is unique because it combines aspects of biology, physics, chemistry and geography and applies them to the Earth.
https://uwosh.edu/geology/about-the-program/what-is-geology/

International Studies
Because of its interdisciplinary nature, the International Studies major links the economic, political, social and environmental factors involved in contemporary international relations in the complex modern world with study of a foreign language. International Studies students will grasp an understanding of the significance of culture, history and values in the diverse nations of the world; the process of diplomacy; functions of international business; the ways in which nations relate to and interact with each other; global issues such as the environment, pollution, trade and social/economic development
https://uwosh.edu/international/about/


Documentation supporting the figure reported above (upload):
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Do the figures reported above cover one, two, or three academic years?:
One

Percentage of students who graduate from programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
1.92

Website URL where information about the sustainability learning outcomes is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.