Student Learning
In Student Affairs, we believe that student learning happens throughout and across the college experience. That learning must account for systemic oppression, power and privilege, and culture and identity. Accordingly, the following five broad, division-wide student learning domains define and describe the co-curricular learning that takes place through the programs, activities, and services offered by Student Affairs to give students the opportunity to learn and grow in service of social action, transformation, personal development, and wellness. Students can expect to develop key skills associated with each domain. Explore each domain to learn more and see what Student Affairs' experiences feature this learning.
Professional Readiness | Global & (Inter)Cultural Awareness | Leadership | Social Responsibility/Civic Engagement | Personal Competence
Professional Readiness
Develop the skills and behaviors to effectively pursue professional goals, attain professional experience, or prepare for a successful post-college transition into the workplace.
Learners will:
- Demonstrate effective communication
- Demonstrate competency in digital literacy
- Address obstacles and navigate them using effective decision-making
- Develop time management skills
- Demonstrate personal accountability
Sample skills:
- Oral and Written Communication
- Negotiation
- Networking
- Organization
- Planning
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Digital Technology
- Career management
Relevant Student Affairs Experiences:
Housing and Residential Life Resident Assistants
Global & (Inter)Cultural Awareness
Analyze interactions and experiences in order to effectively interact and learn from a diverse community and reshape your role and impact in a global society.
Learners will:
- Engage with others from backgrounds different from their own
- Learn from others with backgrounds different from their own
- Gain an understanding of injustices that face people globally
- Interact respectfully across diverse cultures
Sample skills:
- Cultural self-awareness
- Global emotional intelligence
- Effective intercultural communication
- Perspective taking
- Cultural competence
Relevant Student Affairs experiences:
Student Multicultural Affairs groups
Leadership
Students will develop a capacity for collaboration and gain an understanding of commitment and action to others to affect change in their communities.
Learners will:
- Seek and value the involvement of others
- Listen to and consider others’ points of view
- Understand and identify the dynamics of a group
- Solicit and implement feedback
- Communicate a vision, mission, or purpose that encourages commitment and action in others
- Demonstrate effective conflict resolution
- Employ self-reflection
Sample skills:
- Collaboration
- Teamwork
- Active listening
- Decision-making
- Empathy
- Advocacy
- Influencing others
- Self-motivation
- Critical thinking
- Self-reflection
Social Responsibility/Civic Engagement
Students will evaluate the current societal landscape in order to be engaged citizens who have the awareness, values, and skills to identify inequities and participate in social action.
Learners will:
- Make connections between their personal life, academic coursework and social issues Recognize social systems and their influence on people
- Identify systemic barriers to equality and inclusiveness
- Understand and participate in relevant governance systems
- Exhibit respect and preserves the dignity of others
- Engage in critical reflection and dialogue
- Demonstrate a commitment to justice and/or a cause
- Develop a greater sense of a critical consciousness
Sample skills:
- Advocacy
- Civic engagement
- Diplomacy
- Communication
- Community building
- Organization
- Reflective thinking
- Ethical reasoning
Relevant Student Affairs Experiences
Personal Competence
Students will utilize their university experiences to develop self-awareness, perspective, empowerment, and purpose through reflection and learn to live a balanced, healthy, and productive life at UMass Boston and beyond.
Learners will:
- Explore personal beliefs and values through reflection
- Define their sense of purpose and explore salient identities
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to achieve a balance between academics, work and leisure time
- Apply information related to personal health and wellness to support their personal, professional and academic goals
- Recognize their strengths and limitations to be able to advocate for themselves
- Examine the impact of their decisions/behavior on their intended outcomes and adjust as necessary
- Develop realistic goals for achieving their personal vision
Sample skills:
- Time management
- Work-Life Balance
- Organization
- Self-Reflection
- Self-Advocacy
- Goal Setting
- Identity development