Where are you going, where have you been?: Foundational academic skills for undergraduate students

Abstract

The University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) liaison librarians were hearing from faculty that upper year and graduating students lacked the foundational academic skills necessary to be successful both as students and in their lives and careers after graduation. Often, course content is given primacy over skill development and the result is frustration as students reach upper years and graduate. These skills include information literacy, data literacy, critical thinking, communication skills including writing, organizational skills, and others. In collaboration with a group of faculty advisors, we determined a list of foundational academic skills that undergraduate students should have by graduation. We conducted surveys and focus groups with key faculty to assess their perception of foundational academic skills within their own courses and programs, as well as their interest in a course dedicated to these skills. Surveys were also conducted with first and final year students to assess their perception of their abilities entering their program, during their program, and as they finished their program. This poster visually outlines our process, including samples of questionnaires, and uses charts and diagrams to summarize our findings. It will also outline the next steps in the project.