Institutional Learning Goals


KU Notebook next to a laptop

KU Institutional Learning Goals

KU's Institutional learning goals are intended to create a visible conceptual structure around assessment efforts that are already occurring and are an externalization of the university's values around student learning.


Upon completion of their academic programs at KU, students will:

Apply cognitive skills and a broad array of knowledge to promote inquiry, discover solutions, and generate new ideas and creative works. 

Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in a range of contexts using a variety of means and modalities.

Access, evaluate, and use qualitative and/or quantitative information to identify patterns, formulate and support interpretations.

Develop a critical and reflective awareness of social, global, and cultural differences (including ability, language, class, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, ethnicity, indigeneity, and/or race).

Demonstrate integrity and act responsibility with the interest of the larger community, environment, discipline, or profession in mind.

Establish, grow, and sustain productive relationships to effectively address key issues facing local, national, or global communities and solve problems that advance society.


History & Development

During academic year 2020-2021 a Provost-level committee, including Provost leadership in Academic Affairs, Academic Success, Graduate Studies, and the Center for Teaching Excellence, developed six institutional learning goals that capture many existing learning goals, outcomes, and objectives across:

  • Student level
  • Schools and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
  • Campuses
  • Co-curricular

KU’s institutional learning goals are intended to create a visible conceptual structure around assessment efforts that are already occurring and are an externalization of the university’s values around student learning.  These goals were reviewed and revised based on feedback by deans, department chairs, members of the University Core Curriculum Committee, members of the Faculty Advisory Board on Degree-Level Assessment, Vice Provosts and their staff and during academic year 2021-2022 all graduate programs were asked to consider how their programmatic learning outcomes map to the institutional learning goals as part of their degree-level assessment planning.