Teaching Students Personal and Social Responsibility with Measurable Learning Outcomes

Abstract

In 2005 the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) launched a national initiative that championed the importance of a twenty-first century liberal education. What was unique about this initiative was the underlying assumption that educating for personal and social responsibility was “core” for an educated citizenry and should be taught. So the question became, "How does higher education teach responsibility?" Student affairs divisions at Winthrop University and Rollins College approached this question by focusing on collaborative programs and student learning experiences in the curriculum and cocurriculum with the ability to measure outcomes.