Student Affairs Student Learning

UIC Student Affairs provides a myriad of out of the classroom opportunities in which students engage in throughout their college experience. Through these experiences students are able to apply and connect what they are learning both in and outside the classroom. The approach to developing the student learning outcomes framework for Student Affairs is based on the premise that students first acquire knowledge related to these learning domains, are given the opportunity to apply the skills learned through their out of the classroom experiences, and ultimately integrate these skills into their lives to serve them beyond their time at UIC.

  • Divisional Learning Outcomes allow for integration and shared responsibility for student learning across units. These current learning goals and outcomes are the result of the divisional initiative to implement the curricular approach and were updated in June 2023.
  • Unit Learning Outcomes define what students will learn through multiple programs and services offered within a unit. Please click here to access learning outcomes for each unit.

Educational Priority
As a result of the engaged student experience at the University of Illinois Chicago, students will increase self-awareness, know they belong and develop skills to transform their local and global communities through positive change.

Learning Goals

  1. Self-Awareness (SA)
  2. Transformational Leadership (TL)
  3. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
  4. Skills to be Real World Ready (RWR)
  5. Belonging (B)

Self-Awareness
Students will deepen and expand their self-awareness and increase its application to their lives.

Self-awareness includes a student understanding who they are, where they came from, and where they hope to go. It is inclusive of communicating with others, identifying their own needs, and advocating for those needs to others. Self-awareness involves the ability a student has to recognize and reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A student’s sense of self-awareness extends into how they navigate inter-personal relationships, how they approach conflict, and how they respond to challenging situations utilizing strengths and developing skills to overcome barriers. Self-awareness includes an understanding of how others perceive you and how a student’s actions impact others. Being self-aware is not a final destination but is a life-long process of growth and discovery.

Example Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to assess and articulate personal strengths and areas of growth.
  2. Students will be able to understand their needs and advocate for those needs.
  3. Students will be able to develop and practice skills to successfully navigate conflict.
  4. Students will be able to analyze the drivers and impacts of their behavior.
  5. Students will be able to iteratively reflect on the impact of their developing sense of self.

Transformational Leadership
Students will engage with the many aspects of transformational leadership and will learn how to apply them in various settings.

Transformational Leadership is an approach to leadership centered on creating positive change within the student’s environment. Transformational leadership moves the student from being a learner to a doer and engages collaboration amongst students through their groups, teams, organizations, classes, jobs, and pre-professional experiences within Chicagoland and beyond. Students will use transformational leadership in a socially responsible way to identify problems, use creativity and innovation to explore solutions, and ultimately engage in action. Transformational leaders will learn to inspire others, influence outcomes, be courageous, and utilize good judgement in decision making. To be a transformational leader, the student will lead with integrity and learn to use their platform to advocate for others. A transformational leader will find opportunities to utilize their leadership to develop other leaders during their journey at UIC.

Example Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to identify and engage in leadership opportunities or experiences.
  2. Students will be able to apply their strengths to collaborate with others for positive change.
  3. Students will be able to practice transformational leadership concepts.
  4. Students will be able to utilize goals to construct a plan of action.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Students will learn tools to help them advance J.E.D.I. in their organizations and communities.

J.E.D.I. plays a foundational role in our students' relationships with one another and the broader world. Understanding the multiple and intersecting identities they and others inhabit is an essential part of learning to productively engage in diverse groups. Building an inclusive learning environment requires that all members of the campus community use knowledge about discrimination and bias prevention to address structural inequity and work towards social change. Our community is at its strongest when J.E.D.I. is at our foundation.

Example Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to understand the essential role that JEDI plays in their relationships and the world around them.
  2. Students will be able to explore their multiple and intersecting identities.
  3. Students will be able to articulate the role of social identity, power, and privilege in their relationships with one another.
  4. Students will be able to engage productively in diverse groups.
  5. Students will be able to employ JEDI to strengthen our community.

Skills to be "Real World Ready"
Students will acquire skills to prepare them to be successful in life during and after college.

Skills to be “real world ready” applies to a broad scope of skills that students will be exposed to, learn, practice, and acquire during their UIC experience that will prepare them for success during and after college. Students will be able to articulate when they have developed these skills and recognize when to apply the relevant skills in the appropriate environment and situations. These skills are developed within multiple spheres of a student’s life including wellness (self-care, help-seeking, resilience, stress management, balance), professional development (academic preparation, career preparation, time management, financial literacy, recognizing transferable skills), problem solving (critical thinking, adaptability, intellectual flexibility, recognizing and utilizing resources), communication (interpersonal communication, presentation, business communication) and emotional intelligence (emotion regulation, conflict management, behavior management). A student who is progressing in the development of these skills will demonstrate an ability to re-frame challenges, changes, and barriers to succeed and will increase their capacity to solve problems on their own.

Example Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to gain skills through their UIC experiences and articulate their relevancy to their professional and career goals.
  2. Students will be able to adopt healthy physical, psychological, and social wellbeing practices that will help them prepare to manage challenges and stressors.
  3. Students will be able to practice and sharpen critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  4. Students will be able to develop effective communication skills across multiple modalities to various groups.
  5. Students will be able to understand and apply skills related to emotional intelligence.

Belonging:
Students will develop a sense of belonging and create meaningful connections during their time at UIC.

Belonging is the feeling of security and support within a student’s community. Belonging incorporates a student’s sense of connection to UIC, the community, their majors, their groups, and their environment. Belonging is realized when the student has acquired the knowledge that they are accepted amongst their peers for who they are, when they have shared their true authentic self and that they are cared for by others within the UIC community. The foundation for belonging is formed by the development of healthy relationships with others, understanding that the student matters, and knowing that the student is meant to be at UIC.

Example Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to develop their certainty of mattering (as defined by the concepts of dependence, appreciation, importance, ego-extension, and attention).
  2. Students will be able to create meaningful connections within their communities.
  3. Students will be able to foster healthy relationships with others.
  4. Students will be able to share their authentic self with others.
  5. Students will be able to know that they are accepted and cared for as a member of the UIC community.