The Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Evaluation (OIEE) created the following to aid instructors in selecting and/or designing assignments to assess Social Responsibility.
Courses in the following Foundational Component Areas are responsible for teaching and assessing Social Responsibility: American History; Creative Arts; Government/Political Science; Language, Philosophy, & Culture; and Social & Behavioral Sciences.
¹ 19 Tex. Admin. Code §4.28 (2021).
Definition
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board states that the Texas Core Curriculum objective of Social Responsibility is “to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.”¹ Social Responsibility emphasizes students’ development of cultural awareness, civic knowledge, and a disposition to participate in community life at multiple levels.Courses in the following Foundational Component Areas are responsible for teaching and assessing Social Responsibility: American History; Creative Arts; Government/Political Science; Language, Philosophy, & Culture; and Social & Behavioral Sciences.
¹ 19 Tex. Admin. Code §4.28 (2021).
Social Responsibility Rubric & Assignment Checklist
The Importance of Social Responsibility
- Employers emphasize the importance of qualities such as empathy, a commitment to social justice, global awareness, and a desire to contribute to local communities as essential for workplace success.¹
- Employers tend to view job candidates more favorably if they have engaged with community organizations or participated in projects addressing global challenges.¹
- Promotes students’ development as informed, engaged citizens by deepening their understanding of societal challenges and encouraging them to apply their education toward meaningful civic participation and problem-solving.
- Teaching Social Responsibility reinforces Aggie Core Values, such as respect and selfless service, by encouraging students to engage with others thoughtfully and to act for the common good.
¹ American Association of Colleges & Universities. (2023). The career-ready graduate: What employers say about the difference college makes. https://dgmg81phhvh63.cloudfront.net/content/user-photos/Research/PDFs/AACU-2023-Employer-Report.pdf
Best Practices for Assessing
- Share the rubric with students and highlight the components that should be included in the assignment.
- Clarify expectations using rubric-based guidance, e.g., create a plain-language guide that explains what a “high score” looks like on each dimension. Instructors can translate rubric language into discipline-specific expectations to make it more accessible.
- Provide examples of strong and weak written submissions. Use class discussion or peer review to examine the quality of engagement in cultural contexts, civic structures, and analyses of social issues.
Recommended Assignment Types
Individual student submissions of:- Informative or persuasive essays or presentations on a societal issue/challenge
- Academic research essays on a societal issue/challenge
- Reflection essays on a societal issue/challenge
- Case studies of a societal issue/challenge
- Op eds on a societal issue/challenge
