The Provost of George Mason University is pleased to announce the start of a new initiative, Critical Thinking Across the curriculum, CTAC. Development of critical thinking is not only a part of George Mason's Mission but also one of the six Student Competencies in Higher Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Since 2005, Critical Thinking for our undergraduates has been part of assessment requirements from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Faculty participated in these assessments by developing standards, rubrics and serving as raters. George Mason's reports are here: Critical Thinking Reports.

Critical Thinking has also been the subject of university workshops and training through the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of Institutional Assessment.

The CTAC initiative will build on previous faculty and staff work to:

• Increase awareness of the central role Critical Thinking plays in the education of our students
• Support faculty development of assignments, projects and programs that encourage student development and use of critical thinking
• Collect and disseminate results of faculty projects
• Facilitate availability of internal and external resources
• Sponsor workshops, lectures and other activities

CTAC will begin as a joint project of The Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of Institutional Assessment.