SCHEV Competencies

William & Mary is committed to conducting regular reviews of our educational mission and enhancing student learning based on the results of the reviews. William & Mary's Assessment Steering Committee (with input from the Arts & Sciences Educational Policy Committee, the Council of Chairs and Program Directors, and the Center for the Liberal Arts) developed a seven-year general education assessment reporting plan that aligns with a policy established by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

SCHEV serves as the commission for higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SCHEV's Policy on Student Learning Assessment and Quality in Undergraduate Education has identified four critical competencies for student learning and development. Alongside these four competencies, each institution selects two critical competencies of their own that reflect the ongoing institutional priorities for student learning and development.

SCHEV-Identified Critical Competencies

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion. (AAC&U, Feb. 2018)

Written Communication

Written communication is the development and expression of ideas in writing. Written communication involves learning to work in many genres and styles. It can involve working with many different writing technologies, and mixing texts, data, and images. Written communication abilities develop through iterative experiences across the curriculum. (AAC&U, Feb. 2018)

Quantitative Reasoning

The ability to manipulate, analyze, and/or evaluate numbers and numerical data.

Civic Engagement

An array of knowledge, abilities, values, attitudes, and behaviors that in combination allow individuals to contribute to the civic life of their communities. It may include, among other things, exploration of one’s role and responsibilities in society; knowledge of and ability to engage with political systems and processes; and/or course-based or extra-curricular efforts to identify and address issues of public or community concern.

W&M-Selected Critical Competencies

Information Literacy

The ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use and share that information for the problem at hand. (AAC&U, Feb. 2018)

Problem Solving

The process of designing, evaluating and implementing a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal. (AAC&U, Feb. 2018)

William & Mary's Current SCHEV Assessment Schedule (Available Soon)

For questions about SCHEV Competencies, contact Denise Ridley-Johnston (1-2608) or [[rmbryan, Roger Bryan]] (1-6225).