Curriculum Alignment Initiative
Welcome to the Missouri Department of Higher Education's Curriculum Alignment Initiative webpage. This page is designed to provide background information
and updates to the public regarding the MDHE's Curriculum Alignment Initiative (CAI), as well as a forum for public feedback.
Note from Commissioner Stein on MDHE's Curriculum Alignment Initiative
The Missouri Department of Higher Education is very proud to be providing a forum to articulate competencies for entry into and exit from beginning
-level collegiate courses. We have had a great deal of interest and support for the work of the MDHE Curriculum Alignment Initiative (CAI). The letter below is
written as an open letter to multiple constituencies about the CAI and serves to clarify any misunderstandings about our processes and eventual results
associated with this work. We hope this redesigned website will further support understanding of and participation in the CAI.
Best,
Robert B. Stein, Ph.D.
Commissioner of Higher Education
Open Letter on Curriculum Alignment
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT ENTRY OR
EXIT COMPETENCIES AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK
Drivers for the CAI
The work of the CAI is part of MDHE strategy to increase participation in higher education and to smooth pathways for students entering into and progressing
in higher education. The goal is of this work is to improve the college readiness of students throughout Missouri, by clearly articulating to high school
students what it means to be college ready, and to smooth transfer of entry-level collegiate courses. CAI is mandated by
Senate Bill 389 (2007) and directs
public colleges and universities to work with the CBHE to develop entry- and exit-level competencies for entry level collegiate coursework. CAI is also
driven by the work of the
METS Coalition, as well as
the
P-20 Council and the
Director of Education and Workforce Innovation.
Structure
The CAI focuses on seven core areas: Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, English and Communications, Foreign Languages, Mathematics,
Science, and Social Sciences. Educators from across the state in each of these areas are working in discipline workgroups to develop the entry- and exit-
competencies. The postsecondary faculty are joined in this work by K-12 Advisors. Currently there are over 350 participants in the process, with 300
postsecondary and 50 secondary volunteers. The seven discipline workgroups are directed by the Curriculum Alignment Steering Committee (CAS) which is
comprised of discipline workgroup representatives and K-12 administrators, Post-Secondary administrators, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
staff, and MDHE staff. Participant lists are included here:
Curriculum Alignment Steering Committee Members
Discipline Workgroup Participants
Goals
Curriculum Alignment Steering Committee (CAS)
The CAS, made up of representatives from the postsecondary and secondary sectors, as well as liaisons from each of the discipline workgroups, serves to
coordinate and ensure successful completion of this crucial work, in addition to raising awareness and building support in Missouri higher education.
CAS is charged with the coordination of the work of the seven discipline workgroups, feedback and assistance in integrating the competencies documents
once completed, identifying policies and procedures in insure implementation, and to communicate and liaise with constituent groups.
Formal Charge to the Curriculum Alignment Steering Committee
Discipline Workgroups
At the discipline workgroup level, the discipline workgroups are charged with working to articulate competencies for entry into college-level coursework,
as well as for exit from beginning collegiate level coursework (see below for a definition of entry- and exit-level competencies). The goals of the
discipline workgroups are twofold: to define the threshold for access to collegiate-level work based on the competencies that provide a reasonable chance
for success; and to define the body of knowledge a student should know upon exit from a beginning collegiate-level course, to aid in both transfer of credit
as well as transfer of the body of knowledge.
The competencies addressed by the discipline workgroup include:
Entry-Level Competencies: Entry-level competences refer to defining the knowledge and skills necessary for students to begin gaining
access to collegiate-level work. The goal is to set clear expectations about what a student should know in order to be prepared to be successful in
postsecondary coursework, and is separate from the admissions standards of individual institutions. The entry-level competencies draft documents will be
divided into broad discipline areas that correspond with the discipline workgroups: Mathematics, Science English & Communications, Social Sciences,
Foreign Languages, Arts & Humanities, and Engineering & Technology.
The level of specificity and content standards will be related to several factors, including but not limited to: the hierarchical nature of the subject area;
the variation across institutions as to how each discipline area is approached in higher education; and with the advent of Missouri high school required
end-of-course exams, the content it will be reasonable to assume that a student will have covered over the course of their high school career.
Exit-Level Competencies: Exit-level competencies refer to defining the knowledge and skills that a student is expected to have gained as a result of
successfully completing an entry-level general education course at the postsecondary level; these competencies are course-based. The goal is to facilitate
transfer, both in the actual transcription of credit as well as create a definable body of knowledge that a student will carry with them as they move from
one institution to another.
The Curriculum Alignment Steering Committee (CAS) decided that, in order to fulfill the mandate set forth in SB 389, that an initial prioritized list of
courses would be targeted for completion. Priority for included courses will be based on the hierarchical nature of courses within a particular discipline
area first, and then upon the course considered to have the greatest number of students enrolling as entering freshman students. Additional work will be
done to expand the courses for which exit competencies are articulated.
List of Prioritized Courses for completion by the 2008-2009 academic year:
Arts and Humanities
Introduction to Philosophy
Introduction to Theater
English and Communication
Composition I
Introduction to Communication
Foreign Languages
Foreign Language I
Mathematics
College Algebra
Science
Introduction to Astronomy
Introduction to Biology
Introduction to Chemistry
Introduction to Geology
Social Sciences
American History to 1877
American History from 1877
US Government
Introduction to Psychology
The workgroups all include representation from across the educational levels, sectors, and institutional types. The workgroups use a number of source
documents to inform discussion and aid in development of competencies, including ACT standards, Standards for Success (used by the College Board),
Course Level Expectations from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and competencies documents specific to their fields.
Workgroups have been meeting since the end of July, and utilize both face-to-face meetings as well as a number of electronic methods to facilitate
completion of tasks.
CAI Steering Committee and Discipline Workgroup Meetings
All meetings regarding the CAI are open to the public; please see below for a schedule of upcoming meetings. Please note if you wish to attend
a meeting as a public constituent, please see the Guidelines to CAI Public Meetings.
Upcoming Meetings
(All meetings will be held from 11:00am to 3:00pm unless noted otherwise.)
Steering Committee - April 18, 2008
Steering Committee - May 19, 2008
Meeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes are available to individuals who wish to stay apprised of progress; please see the drop down box below:
Timeline
In order to fulfill the mandate set forth by Senate Bill 389 of completion of competencies by the 2008-2009 academic year, the CAS decided upon a
timeline for completion of entry- and exit-level competencies and delivery to the MDHE by May 19, 2008. A more detailed timeline can be found here:
Curriculum Alignment Initiative Timeline
Revised, January 11, 2008
Further Information
For further information or for questions, please contact Hillary Fuhrman, CAI Coordinator, at
hillary.fuhrman@dhe.mo.gov or (573) 751-2361.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT ENTRY OR
EXIT COMPETENCIES AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK
Last updated February 15, 2008
