Identify at least two (2) academic goals and one (1) professional goal that you plan to work on in the next semester. As you complete your longitudinal assessment, identify strengths and weaknesses based on your reflections about your academic performance during the semester. Academic/professional goals are outcomes that you plan to focus on improving in the upcoming semester. These goals may be personal goals based on your career aspirations and/or skills that need improvement to achieve the outcomes for the curriculum. Goals must be specifically stated, measurable, realistic, and achievable in a defined amount of time.
How to write SMART goals 1. Write down the goals you have in mind. Now consider each of the following: • S = specific: Good goals are not ambiguous. You need to have a clear, concise goal that you can set your sights on. For example: rather than saying “I want to get better grades.” Say “I will review my notes after each class and meet with the instructor to ask questions if I don’t understand something. What do you want to accomplish? Who needs to be included to help you accomplish your goal? When do you want to do this? Why is this a goal? • M = measurable: How will I measure progress? How will I decide if I have attained this goal? • A = achievable: Select goals that are challenging, but achievable. Do I have the skills required to achieve the goal? If not, how can I obtain them? Do I have the time to achieve the goal? What is my plan to achieve the goal? • R = relevant: Why is this goal important to me now? Will achieving this goal be beneficial to me? Will it help me achieve other goals? Is this goal worth the time and effort I will need to invest to achieve the goal? • T = time bound: SMART goals have a specified timeframe. Can I achieve this goal in a semester? 2. Review what you have written and finalize your goals based on your answers to the above questions.