Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

The following are the mission and student learning outcomes (SLOs) for each area of Student Affairs.

These will be revisited and updated by the OSA Assessment Team once each year.

  • Pitzer’s Educational Objectives (PEOs)
    1. Breadth of Knowledge
      The human experience is the center of a Pitzer education. By exploring broadly, the programs in humanities and fine arts, natural sciences and mathematics and social and behavioral sciences, students develop an understanding of the nature of human experience-its complexity, its diversity of expression, its continuities and discontinuities over space and time, and the conditions which limit and liberate it.
    2. Understanding in Depth
      By studying a particular subject in depth, students develop the ability to make informed, independent judgments.
    3. Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, and Effective Expression
      By comparing and evaluating the ideas of others and by participating in various styles of research, students develop their capacities for critical judgment. By exploring mathematics, statistics, quantitative/survey research methods, and formal logic, students acquire the ability to reason quantitatively. By writing and communicating orally, students acquire the ability to express their ideas effectively and to persuade others.
    4. Interdisciplinary Perspective
      By integrating the perspectives of several disciplines, students gain an understanding of the powers and limits of each field and of the kind of contribution each can make; students learn how to understand phenomena as a complex whole.
    5. Intercultural Understanding
      By learning about their own culture and placing it in comparative perspective, students appreciate their own and other cultures, and recognize how their own thoughts and actions are influenced by their culture and history. This understanding supports a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that facilitate effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.
    6. Social Justice, Social Responsibility and the Ethical Implications of Knowledge and Action
      Through the Social Justice Theory and Social Responsibility Praxis paired course sequence, students will acquire a concern with and commitment to social justice and  social responsibility through both theory and practice courses that emphasize these themes.


     

  • Residence Life & Summer Programs

    Mission

    The mission of Residence Life and Summer Programs is to cultivate a safe and inclusive living environment where students, staff, and faculty continue to learn and interact through a variety of innovative programs, practices, and services.  We also aim to welcome a variety of camps, conferences, and educational groups to Pitzer College by coordinating agreements, classrooms, residence hall rooms, meals, and other on-campus amenities.

     

    Resident Assistants (RA)

    Program objective:

    1. Students will gain transferable leadership skills by participating as a resident assistant.

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. Resident Assistants will feel valued by the ResLife program and will be satisfied with the support they receive in the job.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of serving as a Resident Assistant, students will be able to…

    1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills. (PEO 3)
    2. Identify and respond appropriately to potential safety concerns and crisis situations. (PEO 1 and 3)
    3. Identify and effectively utilize different interpersonal communication skills. (PEO 3 and 5)
    4. Actively work to support campus, local, and global efforts of social justice through educational programs. (PEO 5 and 6)
    5. Address issues of social justice within our own community through direct conversation or activities. (PEO 3 and 6)
    6. Appreciate and recognize the value of diversity. (PEO 5)
    7. Effectively complete administrative tasks such as weekly reports, door decorations, bulletin boards, program proposals and evaluations, work requests, incident reports, duty logs, and check-in/out paperwork. (PEO 1 and 2)
    8. Implement intentional programs to meet the needs of the community as identified by resident interactions, interest surveys, and residence hall assessments. (PEO 3)
    9. Identify and support community resources by collaborating on programs, attending events at the resource centers, and referring residents to these resources. (PEO 4)
    10. Support residents’ academic interests and success both inside and outside the classroom. (PEO 1)
    11. Successfully work with, and contribute to, a team environment. (PEO 5)

     

    Program: New Student Mentors

     Program objective:

    1. Students will gain transferrable leadership skills by participating as a New Student Mentor.

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. Mentors will feel valued by the Residence Life and Summer Programs staff and will be satisfied with the support they receive in the job.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of serving as a New Student Mentor, students will be able to…

    1. Identify and effectively utilize different interpersonal communication skills. (PEO#3)
    2. Actively support efforts of social justice within the global community and work to address issues of social justice within our own community at Pitzer. (PEO#6)
    3. Appreciate and recognize the value of diversity. (PEO#5)
    4. Evaluate, analyze, and interpret information to effectively support mentees in their transition to Pitzer. (PEO#3)
    5. Effectively complete administrative tasks such as meeting attendance, New Student Orientation support, and leading an Orientation Adventure trip. (PEO#3?)
    6. Identify and support community resources by attending events at the resource centers, and referring residents to these resources. (PEO#1?)
    7. Explore and support residents’ academic interests and success both inside and outside the classroom. (PEO#1)
    8. Understand group dynamics and contribute positively to a team environment. Successfully work with, and contribute to, a team environment. (PEO#5)

    Residence Hall Student Residents

    Program objective:

    1. Residents will learn to be self-directed individuals and will gain important life skills by actively engaging in the residence halls.

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. Residents will feel connected to, and supported by, Residence Life staff and fellow community members.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of living in the residence halls, students will be able to…

    1. Demonstrate an understanding of campus policies as well as residence hall community expectations including respect, responsibility and personal accountability. (PEO 5 and 6)
    2. Effectively utilize different interpersonal communication skills. (PEO 5)
    3. Appreciate the value of diversity and find active ways to support efforts of social justice. (PEO 2, 4, 5, and 6)
    4. Use critical thinking skills to effectively solve problems within their living spaces and communities and identify community concerns in order to work with campus constituents  and construct solutions. (PEO 3, 5, and 6)
    5. Identify community resources and opportunities for involvement and/or leadership. (PEO 2)
    6. Succeed in their academic endeavors due to the supportive residence hall community (PEO 4 and 5)

     

    Hall Council Members

    Program objective:

    1. Residents will gain leadership skills and will gain experience in how to represent the residents of their building.                                                             

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. Hall Council Members will feel they have a voice in the administration of the residence halls and will feel their time on the council was well spent.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of participation in hall council, students will be able to…

    1. Gather and Summarize the current experience of residents of their building (PEO #5). Effectively utilize different interpersonal communication skills in order to represent the residents of their building.
    2. List barriers to resident participation in Hall Council meetings, programs, etc. (PEO #1, #6) Appreciate the value of diversity and find active ways to support efforts of social justice.
    3. Construct institutional reports (PEO #3) such as meeting attendance, funding proposals, budgeting presentations, and advertisements
    4. Create programs, initiatives to meet the needs of the community as identified by resident interactions and survey information. (PEO #1)

     

    Summer Conference Assistants (SCAs)

     Program objective:

    1. Students will gain transferable leadership and job skills by participating as a Summer Conference Assistant.

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. Summer Conference Assistants (SCAs) will feel valued by the ResLife program and will be satisfied with the support they receive in the job.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of serving as a Summer Conference Assistant, students will be able to…

    1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills. (PEO 3)
    2. Identify and respond appropriately to potential safety concerns and crisis situations. (PEO 1 and 3)
    3. Identify and effectively utilize different interpersonal communication skills. (PEO 3 and 5)
    4. Effectively complete administrative tasks such as weekly reports, linen swaps, office hours, unlocking doors, bulletin boards, work requests, incident reports, duty logs, and check-in/out paperwork. (PEO 1 and 2)

     

    Service Desk

    Program objectives:

    1. Service Desk Staff will gain customer service and administrative skills by providing a multitude of assistance to housing residents and supporting Residence Life operations.

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. Service Desk Staff will have the ability to work with the Residence Director in order to contribute ideas and strengthen the Service Desk program.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of working for the service desk, student staff will be able to…

    1. Demonstrate organizational and time management skills.
    2. Exercise communication skills in order to work well as a team and serve campus.
    3. Complete administrative tasks such as attending meetings, replying to emails, and supporting Residence Life projects.

     

    Housing Office Assistants (HOAs)

    Program objectives:

    1. Housing Office Student Assistants will gain customer service and administrative skills by providing a multitude of assistance to housing residents and supporting Residence Life operations.

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. Housing Office Staff will have the ability to work with the Assistant Director and the Graduate Assistant of Residence Life and Summer Programs in order to develop various skills, provide feedback to strengthen the Front Desk service, and feel that they have developed valuable skills and contributed to the department.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of working for the front desk, student staff will be able to…

    1. Demonstrate time management skills. (POE #2, 3)
    2. Exercise interpersonal communication skills in order to assist students (PEO #3, 5)
    3. Complete administrative tasks such as replying to emails, coding ID cards, facilitating room check-in/out, and supporting Residence Life projects. (PEO #1, 3)

     

     

    Graduate Assistants/Interns (GA & ACUHO-I Interns)

    Program objectives:

    1. Graduate Assistants/Interns will gain supervisory, administrative, and interpersonal skills by providing a multitude of assistance to Residence Life operations and Summer Conference operations.

    Satisfaction Outcomes:

    1. GA & ACUHO-I Interns will have the ability to work with the Assistant Director, Resident Directors, and Summer Conference Assistants in order to develop various skills, provide feedback to strengthen Residence Life and Summer Programs, and feel that they have developed valuable skills and contributed to the department.
    2. GA & ACUHO-I Interns will have the opportunity to meet other campus constituents to learn more about the different areas of student affairs outside of Residence Life such as New Student Orientation/Campus Life, Center for Asian Pacific American Students, and the Dean of Students.

    Student learning outcomes: As a result of working for Residence Life and Summer Programs, GA & ACUHO-I Interns will be able to…

    1. Demonstrate time management skills. (PEO #3, 2)
    2. Identify and exercise interpersonal communication skills in order to supervise Housing Office Assistants and Summer Conference Assistants (PEO #1, 4)
    3. Identify and respond appropriately to potential safety concerns and crisis situations (POE #3)
    4. Demonstrate mastery of administrative tasks such as replying to emails, coding ID cards, facilitating room check-in/out, and supporting Residence Life projects. (PEO #1, 3)
  • Career Services

    Pitzer Career Services first developed student learning outcomes in fall 2014 and revised the SLO’s in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Research in summer 2015.  These were reviewed and revised by the Pitzer Career Services team in summer 2017:

    1. Students will be able to identify specific career field interests.
    2. Students will be able to create and customize a professional resume and cover letter.
    3. Students will be able to demonstrate effective interview skills.
    4. Students will be able to apply effective strategies for conducting a job or internship search or for applying for continuing education.
    5. Students will be able to identify professionals in the career field with whom they may network.
    6. Students will be able to utilize networking methods to make contact with professionals in their chosen field(s).
  • Academic Support Services

    Academic Support Services Student Goal – developed by Associate Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs.

    Students who utilize Academic Support Services will embrace the academic excellence value, and learn about learning, motivation, time management, organization, goal-setting, test-taking, and self-regulation, and apply this knowledge now and later in life.

    Academic Support Services Student Learning Outcomes

    Depending on their specific needs, students will be able to:

    1. Students will be able to identify academic support resources at Pitzer College and describe how to access the resources.
    2. Students will be able to assess their own learning style and begin identifying needs and abilities for the purpose of increasing success in current coursework.
    3. Students will be able to describe the importance of managing time effectively and utilize time management skills.
    4. Students will demonstrate their knowledge guidelines by developing personal characteristics and goals that reflect their understanding of protocol and procedures
  • Center for Asian Pacific American Students (CAPAS)

    Student Goals– developed by CAPAS Director and Office of Institutional Research

    1. Create an atmosphere where students can explore Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history and current issues
    2. Build a space where AAPI students feel safe to explore their Asian American Pacific Islander identity
    3. Build an AAPI community where students have access to resources and utilize them
  • Campus Life

    Orientation Adventure (OA) Student Goals– developed by Assistant Dean of Students and Student Involvement Coordinator.

    Students who coordinate the Orientation Adventure program will:

    1. Master the leadership, administrative, and other responsibilities of coordinating a 350 person multi-day program.
    2. Become successful peer trainers.
    3. Represent the OA program in a professional manner.
    4. Develop skills that will connect to their future personal and professional goals.

    Students who lead Orientation Adventure trips will:

    1. Gain leadership and communication skills.
    2. Successfully plan, lead and facilitate a multi-day trip with 20 plus participants.
    3. Facilitate leadership and community building activities for participants.
    4. Understand Pitzer’s core values and connect them to their OA trip.
    5. Learn general and specific information about the greater Southern California area (trip specific).
    6. Acquire transferable skills.

    Students who participate in the Orientation Adventure program will:

    1. Build relationships with their peers and returning student leaders.
    2. Learn general and specific information about the greater Southern California area (trip specific).
    3. Become familiar with Pitzer’s core values and recognize the relationship of the core values to the OA program.
    4. Learn more about what Pitzer College has to offer and how they fit into Pitzer College.
    5. Develop a desire to become involved on campus when they return from their trips.

    Orientation Adventure (OA) Student Learning Outcomes

    Students who coordinate the Orientation Adventure program will:

    1. Be able to explain how OA contributes to student learning and how OA connects to Pitzer’s core values.
    2. Be able to produce succinct and thorough itineraries for student-led trips.
    3. Be certified in First aid and CPR skills.
    4. Be able to explain the purpose of assessing the OA program.
    5. Identify acquired transferable skills.

    Students who lead Orientation Adventure trips will:

    1. Be able to identify at least two of Pitzer’s core values and explain their connection to the OA program.
    2. Demonstrate how to plan, lead and facilitate a multi-day trip with 20-plus participants.
    3. Be certified in First-Aid and CPR skills.
    4. Identify at least three effective communication skills.
    5. Articulate general and specific information about the greater Southern California area (trip specific).

     

    Student Clubs/Organizations Student Goals – developed by Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Student Involvement Coordinator in consultation with various student leaders and Office of Student Affairs Staff.

    Leaders of sponsored clubs and organizations will:

    1. Build leadership and communication skills.
    2. Know how their club connects to Pitzer’s core and community values.
    3. Know how to manage the organizational and financial needs of the club.

    Students participating in sponsored clubs and organizations will:

    1. Know how their club connects to Pitzer’s core and community values.
    2. Be familiar with the leadership structure in the club.
    3. Be familiar with the basic organizational and financial operations of the club.
    4. Improve communication skills.

    Student Clubs/Organizations Student Learning Outcomes

    Leaders of sponsored clubs and organizations will be able to:

    1. Articulate the procedure/protocol to run a successful meeting.
    2. State how leadership is transitioned in their club or organization.
    3. Explain how their club connects to Pitzer’s core and community values.
    4. Describe the value of budgeting, recording minutes, and archiving historical information pertaining to the club.
    5. Explain how to register an event.
    6. List three ways to solicit participation.
    7. Explain the function of Pitzer’s accounting forms.
    8. Identify and utilize appropriate/professional techniques for giving feedback.
    9. Name three strategies for resolving disagreement in a meeting.

    Students participating in sponsored clubs and organizations will be able to:

    1. Explain how their club connects to Pitzer’s core and community values.
    2. Identify three attributes of a properly run meeting.
    3. Explain the value of recording minutes and historical information pertaining to the club.
    4. State how leadership is transitioned in their club or organization.
    5. Name three strategies for resolving disagreement in a meeting.

    Students who participate in the Orientation Adventure program will:

    1. Be able to articulate general and specific information about the greater Southern California area (trip specific).
    2. Be able to identify at least one of Pitzer’s core values and explain their connection to the OA program.
    3. Describe a way in which they feel they might like to be involved on campus once they return from their trips.
    4. Be able to identify group members’ names and a few facts about each group member.