The Kalamazoo College mission is to “prepare our graduates to better understand, live successfully within, and provide enlightened leadership to a richly diverse and increasingly complex world.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the skills needed to achieve these goals are constantly evolving. Institutional assessment exists to help the College reflect on its successes and take note of the gaps in our academic programming. This culture of assessment further empowers our faculty to be innovative in their teaching, keeping K at the forefront of education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What We Assess<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After carefully surveying faculty, staff, alumni, and students, the College has ascertained four key skills that each student should obtain prior to graduation. These institutional learning outcomes (ILOs) were selected to ensure that our students have the necessary abilities to thrive in the modern, global workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Communicate Effectively<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The ability to translate one\u2019s vision for the future into terms that are easily understandable is the marking of a good leader. Learning to successfully articulate one\u2019s ideas is a critical skill that sets our students apart in the workforce and empowers them to be pioneers in their field. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Address Complex Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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As the world becomes increasingly complex, the challenges our students face become more intricate. Developing critical thinking is a central tenet of a Kalamazoo College education; we want our students to creatively innovate and envision solutions to today\u2019s most pressing problems.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Collaborate Successfully<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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To be effective leaders, students need to also be listeners and collaborators. At K, we want our students to learn how to cooperate with people of all beliefs and backgrounds so that they can go on to become team players, coalition builders and community organizers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
We live in a deeply interconnected world that cannot easily be compartmentalized by borders. It is central to our mission that students expand their sense of community to become conscientious global citizens who can empathize with and appreciate richly diverse cultures.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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