The Commission on Higher Education is the unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region. Within "Standard 11: Education Offerings" are listed the following "Fundamental Elements of Education Offerings" that all colleges should meet:

"Collaboration between professional library staff and faculty in teaching and fostering information literacy skills relevant to the curriculum" "Programs that support student use of information and learning resources"
(Characteristics..., p. 34)

"Optional Analysis and Evidence" includes "Evidence of information literacy incorporated in the curriculum with syllabi, or other materials appropriate to the mode of teaching and learning, describing expectations for students' demonstration of information literacy skills" "Assessment of information literacy outcomes, including assessment of related learner abilities"
(Characteristics..., p. 35)

Standard 12: General Education
"The institution's curricula are designed so that students acquire and demonstrate college-level proficiency in general education, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis and reasoning, technological competency, and information literacy. (Characteristics..., p. 37)

How Can the Library Help?

The CSI Library can help departments incorporate the assessment of information literacy into their academic programs on the undergraduate and graduate levels. By working on course-specific assignments in the library, students develop the skills needed to find, evaluate and utilize research to broaden their understanding of a subject.

The Library can help you achieve your assessment goals through customized workshops and collaboratively designed assignments including:

• Library practicum: collaborative class learning/research exercise
  
• Pre- or post-tests for research skills
  
• Student presentation elaborating on research methods
  
• Annotated bibliography
  
• Classmate bibliography critiques
  
• Research journal or portfolio
  
• Research proposal or paper
  
• Documented speech

Evidence from the 2005 CSI LibQual+ survey revealed the faculty's appreciation of this effective service.

Contact Information:

The CSI Library faculty look forward to working with you to design and achieve your information literacy goals. For more information contact the library at 718-982-4010, email: library@mail.csi.cuny.edu