General Education Assessment

Purpose of General Education:  The mission of the general education program at TSTC Harlingen is to provide courses that enhance the overall depth and breadth of a student's technical education program of study.  TSTC offers a number of academic courses as identified in the Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).  This manual identifies courses and common course numbers for freshmen and sophomore level classes that are are acceptable at all public colleges and universities in Texas.  As such, any course that is successfully completed at one public institution is to be accepted by the other colleges and universities within the state. 

Control of Assessment:  The assesment of the General Education courses is directed by the General Education Assessment Team consisting of the Division Director and at least one member from each of the academic departments in the division.  The Team is appointed by the Vice President for Student Learning.  The Team establishes the policy for review of the general education courses and examines the reviews that have been conducted.

Concepts of Assessment:  For purposes of assessment the General Education Assessment Team has placed the five-course requirement into four groups:  Behavorial/Social Science, Communication, Humanities/Fine Arts, and Mathematics.  The specific grouping of classes and their intended goals is shown in the General Education Assessment Plan Model: