Evergreen Teaches Students to Succeed
Students work closely with faculty to meet these expectations and build them into their academic plan as they pursue their educational journey at Evergreen.
1. Articulate and Assume Responsibility for Your Own Work
Students will know how to work well with others socially, in the workplace, and as an active participant in the struggle for a more just world. Evergreen students assume responsibility for their actions as an individual and exercise power responsibly and effectively.
Examples
- Timely attendance and completion of work
- Progress from introductory to advanced work
- Learning how to find and use academic resources
- Taking initiative in leading and contributing to group work
- Bringing notes and questions to seminars
- Presenting thoughtful self-evaluations throughout academic journey
- Designing a clear and distinctive curriculum through Individual Learning
- Working on publications, gallery presentations, and community work
2. Participate Collaboratively and Responsibly in our Diverse Society
Students will understand that "by giving of yourself you make the success of others possible". A thriving community is crucial to personal well-being. Studying diverse worldviews and experiences will help to develop the skills to act effectively as a local citizen within a complex global framework.
Examples
- Keeping commitments for seminar preparation, group projects, and community service work
- Understanding and articulating important cultural or social issues in program choices, community service, and academic work
- Being a fully engaged member of a collaborative work group, supporting the learning of others in leadership and cooperation
- Build bridges between disparate groups
- Challenge individual and interpersonal biases and grow personally and academically
3. Communicate Creatively and Effectively
Students will learn to listen objectively to others to understand and accept a wide variety of viewpoints. By developing a genuine interest in the experiences of others, students will learn to ask thoughtful questions, communicate persuasively and express themselves creatively.
Examples
- Producing written work or oral presentations that successfully convey ideas, appropriate to the particular form of the assignment and audience
- Developing the ability to clearly explain concepts to others
- Writing strong self-evaluations, successfully articulating learning
- Contributing effectively to seminar discussions
- Producing professional-level work as an example of the particular form
4. Demonstrate Integrative, Independent, Critical Thinking
Students will appreciate and critically evaluate a range of topics, across academic disciplines. As they explore these disciplines students will develop a greater curiosity toward the world around them, and its interconnections, that will enhance their skills as an independent, critical thinker.
Examples
- Producing an independent project within a program, or as an Individual Learning Contract
- Producing a major research project with an original thesis that successfully integrates multiple lines of thought
- Ability to assess the value of evidence in a research project
- Ability to critique academic work
- Understanding the limitations of a particular mode of inquiry
- Developing new methods and strategies for tackling problems
- Completing outstanding original work
- Ability to assess the success of own work
5. Apply Qualitative, Quantitative and Creative Modes of Inquiry Appropriately to Practical and Theoretical Problems Across Disciplines
Students will understand the importance of the relationship between analysis and synthesis. Through being exposed to the arts, sciences and humanities, students will come to their own critical understanding of their interconnectedness. Students will learn to apply appropriate skills and creative ways of thinking to major life questions.
Examples
- Successfully complete courses or programs involving research projects in creative arts, math, science, computer science, humanities, and social science
- Ability to approach a research problem from several different modes of inquiry
- Ability to interpret and make judgments about data and validity of conclusions
- Progression of learning in research or projects in one or more of these areas into an advanced level: cumulative development of skills in math/computer science/science, or creative arts, or social science/humanities
6. Demonstrate Depth, Breadth and Synthesis of Learning and the Ability to Reflect on the Personal and Social Significance of that Learning
As a culmination of their Evergreen education, students will be able to apply the personal frame of reference developed as a result of this unique education in order to make sense of the world. This understanding will allow them to act in a way that is both easily understood by and compassionate toward other individuals across personal differences.
Examples
- Completion of at least two multi-quarter, interdisciplinary programs
- Earning at least 45 credits in a single area of study, showing clear progression of learning
- Choice and completion of programs that progress in complexity
- Earning credits in at least four of the five major disciplinary areas (Natural Sciences, Mathematics/Computer Science, Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts)
- Writing a strong Academic Statement showing integration of learning across disciplines and depth of study in at least one area