EUGENE, Ore. - Lumina Foundation has awarded a three-year, $789,000 grant to Oregon's 17 community colleges and 7 public universities to test a statewide application of the Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP) (see www.luminafoundation.org/newsroom/topics.html?_stopic=4).
The DQP in Oregon will define what students should be expected to know, and be able to do, regardless of their majors or fields of study, upon earning an associate or bachelor's degree.
Lane Community College will act as the fiscal agent in the project for the state throughout the grant period.
"Students, faculty and employers will have a common understanding of what an associate or bachelor's degree really means," said Dr. Sonya Christian, executive vice president and chief academic officer at Lane, and co-principal investigator of the grant. "By documenting learning outcomes and competencies, there will be a greater level of clarity of students' knowledge and skill set beyond seat time at the course, program and degree level."
Over the grant period of September 1, 2012 through May 31, 2015, community colleges will create a descriptive profile that measures the knowledge and skills obtained by graduates for associate degrees, and universities will do the same for bachelor's degrees. Together they will describe how student learning should advance from the associate level to the bachelor's level, and provide valuable information to students and employers seeking information on skill sets of recent graduates. The DQP will help faculty articulate and align institutional student learning outcomes with departmental objectives.
As a result of this work, Oregon will have improved alignment of learning outcomes across all of postsecondary education, and a clearer definition of achievement gains as students progress towards a degree. This supports the State Board of Education and State Board of Higher Education vision for Oregon's 40-40-20 education attainment goal.
The project has long been in the making. Last year, Lane Community College hosted a statewide conference on the DQP for all 24 community colleges and universities in Oregon, bringing together institutional teams of faculty, deans, student services professionals and other college personnel (more info at https://oregondqp.org/conferences/win_win_and_dqp_conference_October_2011/). The next conference is set for October 25 and 26 at Lane.
The grant proposal to Lumina was initiated through a letter of inquiry collectively submitted by Lane, the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, and the Oregon University System to fund the testing of the beta version of the DQP.
"The testing of the Degree Qualifications Profile is underway with several regional accreditors and higher education membership organizations," said Holiday Hart McKiernan, chief operating officer and general counsel at Lumina Foundation, overseeing the DQP work for Lumina. "We are very excited to learn what the state of Oregon can teach us about the content, implementation and use of the DQP."
Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis-based private foundation, is committed to enrolling and graduating more students from college—especially 21st century students: low-income students, students of color, first-generation students, and adult learners. Lumina's goal is to increase the percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Lumina pursues this goal in three ways: by identifying and supporting effective practice, by encouraging effective public policy, and by using our communications and convening capacity to build public will for change. For more information logon to http://www.luminafoundation.org
Lane Community College provides comprehensive, accessible, quality, learning-centered educational opportunities that promote student success. Nationally acclaimed for innovation and excellence, Lane offers transfer programs, career and technical training, business development services, basic skills classes, and lifelong learning. About 38,000 people enroll at campuses in Eugene, Florence, Cottage Grove, and online.
Lane is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Visit online at www.lanecc.edu or www.twitter.com/lanenews or www.facebook.com/lanecommunitycollege
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Media contacts:
Joan Aschim, Public Information Officer, Lane Community College, aschimj@lanecc.edu, (541) 463-5591
Elizabeth Cox Brand, Director of Communications and Research, Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, elizabeth.coxbrand@state.or.us (503) 947-2454
Diane ("Di") Saunders, Director of Communications, Oregon University System, diane_saunders@ous.edu, (503) 725-5714 (office), or (971) 219-6869 (cell)