New Learning Goals for a Modern Workforce at University of Phoenix

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University of Phoenix is focused intently on preparing its students to pursue their career goals. The University’s courses align with in-demand skills, degree programs provide insights into various industries and classes are taught by practitioners with significant real-world experience. As part of its commitment to career-focused higher education, University Learning Goals establish the key skills that graduates need to help them achieve career success. The University launched the learning goals in 2002, and they evolved further in 2014.

After a review in 2020, University of Phoenix has added an additional two additional University Learning Goals to the list which reflect the changing nature of modern work: Cultural Competence & Ethics and Digital Fluency. The two new goals join three others: Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Communication and Collaboration.

University of Phoenix Adapts Learning Goals to Meet the Times

The University is constantly reassessing its priorities in light of a changing world. Recently, the focus has become the increasing importance of cultural and global awareness in creating diverse, innovative and forward-thinking working environments and in the importance of digital competency for all students who are entering the workforce.

“Our University Learning Goals provide a strong foundation for our approach to curriculum development and program design,” said John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer of University of Phoenix. “As part of our mission to provide career-relevant education to working adults, we saw an important opportunity to update our goals and ensure alignment with the skills and competencies required for the diverse and digital 21st century workplace.”

About the New University Learning Goals

All of the University Learning Goals are further defined on the University’s website, and they are shared with other accreditation documents to the Higher Learning Commission as part of the accreditation process.

Cultural Competence & Ethics is defined as being able to understand differences in others, to have awareness in order to examine one’s own tightly held beliefs and to embrace opportunities to grow and change. This is a skill that is essential to working with others in diverse workplaces and communities and is necessary in order to collaborate in planning committees, in strategic planning, in setting policies and other necessary workplace interactions.

Digital Fluency describes the way graduates will be able to access and ethically use data from various sources as well as knowing how to research and analyze information in order to verify its accuracy. Graduates should also be able to use digital tools to solve problems, answer questions and share information. This is a key skill in today’s working world regardless of industry and will be crucial for graduates embarking on new career paths.

A Mission to Prepare Students for the Future

The University Learning Goals complement the broader mission at University of Phoenix which is to provide higher education to students in order to give them the tools to achieve their career goals as well as to “improve the performance of their organizations and provide leadership and service to their communities.”

Commitment to future work readiness is embedded in the University’s mission, and it has developed its degree program tracks and other relevant certificate programs to provide skill-building opportunities that can directly translate into new work opportunities and career advancement for working students.

University of Phoenix was designed to accommodate the needs of working adults looking for degrees and certificates to further their education. Among these efforts are generous transfer credit options and Prior Learning Assessments (PLAs) that reduce the time and cost of completing a degree. Using (PLA) credits, students can apply to receive credits for professional skills including IT certifications, military service, police academy training and real estate licenses. There are also PLA credits for life experiences including skills like stress management, parenting and communicating in a virtual workplace.

Most students at University of Phoenix are adult learners, nearly 65 percent have children and over 80 percent work while attending classes.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is committed to advancing the educational goals of adult and nontraditional learners and to helping students navigate career options and degree programs that best suit their interests. The University’s degree programs are aligned with numerous in-demand career paths including in computer software, nursing and business, and they provide flexible start dates, online classes, and numerous scholarship opportunities to make it possible for anyone to get the degree they want. In addition, University of Phoenix’s Career Services for Life^® commitment to active students and graduates provides the resources needed to be competitive in the workforce for no additional charge. These services include resume and interview support, career guidance, education and networking opportunities. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.