Consistent with the mission and values of the University, ACE is based on a shared set of four institutional objectives and 10 student learning outcomes. The ACE program was approved by faculty in all eight undergraduate colleges and endorsed by the Faculty Senate, the student government and the Academic Planning Committee in January 2008 for implementation in the fall 2009. ACE aligns with current national initiatives in general education.
Find out more information about ACE.
Key characteristics of ACE
- Students receive a broad education with exposure to multiple disciplines, critical life skills and important reasoning, inquiry, and civic capacities.
- ACE is simple and transparent for students, faculty and advisers. Students complete the equivalent of 3 credit hours for each of the ten student learning outcomes.
- Students connect and integrate their ACE experiences with their selected major.
- Students can transfer all ACE certified courses across colleges within the institution to meet the ACE requirement and any course from outside the institution that is directly equivalent to a UNL ACE-certified course. Courses from outside institutions without direct equivalents may be considered with appropriate documents for ACE credit (see academic adviser).
- ACE allows faculty to assess and improve their effectiveness and facilitate students' learning.
ACE Structural Criteria
Graduates of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will satisfy the requirements of their majors, their colleges, and the ACE Program.
- ACE courses are credit-bearing curricular offerings or equivalent documented co-curricular experiences.
- The ACE Program will consist of the equivalent of 3 credit hours for each of the ten ACE Student Learning Outcomes.
- Any ACE course approved to satisfy an ACE Student learning Outcome satisfies that Student Learning Outcome in all UNL undergraduate colleges.
- Up to three ACE Student Learning Outcomes 4-10 may be satisfied by work in one subject area.
- ACE Student Learning Outcomes must be satisfied by work in at least three subject areas.
- No ACE course may satisfy more than one ACE Student Learning Outcome in a student's program.
- If an ACE course addressed two ACE Student Learning Outcomes, the student decides which one of the two Outcomes the course will satisfy in that student's program.
- Every ACE course will reinforce at least one of the following as appropriate for the discipline and as identified by the department offering the course: Writing, Oral Communication, Visual Literacy, Historical Perspectives, Mathematics and Statistics, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Ethics, Civics, Social Responsibility, Global Awareness, or Human Diversity.