ALC Frequently Asked Questions

What are Academic Learning Compacts?

Academic Learning Compacts (ALC) are state-mandated documents intended to identify the expected core student learning outcomes for undergraduate degree programs relative to communication skills, content/discipline knowledge and skills, and critical thinking skills. It is expected that students should acquire these skills and knowledge if they successfully follow the prescribed course of study in their declared major.

The Compacts must: (i) delineate what students are expected to know and be able to practically demonstrate upon successful completion of their undergraduate degree program, (ii) identify the corresponding assessment strategies used to measure student achievement on each of the core student learning outcomes for the degree program, and (iii) be made available to enrolled and prospective students.

What is the relationship between the ALCs and program assessment?

ALCs (i) document the expected core student learning outcomes for undergraduate degree programs relative to communication skills, content/discipline knowledge and skills, and critical thinking skills, and (ii) identify the corresponding assessment strategies used to measure student achievement on each of the core student learning outcomes for the degree program. The goal is improvement of student learning.

The intent of the Florida Board of Governors is that programs not only develop core outcomes and identify assessment methods, but that they continuously use assessment results to enhance student learning and make informed decisions pertaining to the academic program. Thus, ALCs form the basis of each baccalaureate program’s assessment activities.

Who is responsible for developing ALCs?

Department/program directors/chairs and faculty are responsible for the development and implementation of ALCs within their respective undergraduate programs. Through assessment workshops (see below) and consultation with chairs/faculty, the Center for 21st Century Teaching Excellence offers guidance/support to academic programs in identification of intended student learning outcomes and development and implementation of assessment plans.

Do ALCs satisfy the SACS Accreditation requirements?

ALCs are an important component of institutional effectiveness, because they are systematically embedded within the institution’s ongoing program assessment processes at the undergraduate level. The SACS Commission on Colleges expects the institution to identify expected outcomes, assess the extent to which it achieves these outcomes, and provide evidence of improvement based on analysis of the results. For its baccalaureate programs, USF meets this expectation through the ALC process, which includes continuous documentation of information on student learning based on the following assessment process:

i. Develop program-level student learning outcomes
ii. Define the expected levels of performance for each student learning outcome
iii. Identify assessment strategies
iv. Analyze and interpret results of program assessment
v. Use of assessment results for student achievement and program improvement

The ALC website has been re-designed to allow for an online documentation of assessment information and management of the assessment process by chairs and ALC coordinators in all undergraduate academic programs.

Where are the ALCs and how can chairs, faculty and students access them?

Each undergraduate program’s ALC is available in the ALC website.

Each undergraduate chair can log in and make changes to the ALC document for his/her program.

Are there workshops offered to assist in the development of ALCs?

Yes. Each semester, the Center for 21st Century Teaching Excellence in conjunction with the Office of University Assessment conducts a series of ALC/Assessment workshops. The workshops target various assessment-related topics and offers guidance on specific steps in development and implementation of the Academic Learning Compacts and other program assessments. To view the current schedule of workshops, please visit the Center’s website.