Pine Manor College Portfolio Program
Student Handbook
Introduction
The Pine Manor College Portfolio Program is designed to help you be an active participant in your own education. Life at college presents you with many opportunities for learning – some inside the classroom and some outside the classroom. Through the Portfolio Program you learn how to make choices about these opportunities and how to think about and keep track of your experiences in ways that will help you get the most value from your years here at Pine Manor College. Ultimately, the program will enable you to assess and reflect upon the education you have created within the Pine Manor community. The Senior Portfolio and presentation, for example provide a powerful opportunity for you to draw together the many strands of your education and accomplishments as you prepare for your next steps.
During your first two years at the College you will be meeting regularly with your advisor - first in your First Year Seminar and then more informally. During your sophomore year you have the opportunity to participate in a Sophomore Colloquium - a two-credit course organized around the theme of exploring the meaning of work and careers. Whether with your advisor, with other mentors, or in the Colloquium, you develop skills in assessing your progress toward the broad learning goals of a Pine Manor education, represented by the Portfolio Outcomes.
The emphasis during these years is on helping you to establish learning goals, to assess your strengths and weaknesses with regard to these goals, and to develop strategies to achieve them. Activities and discussions help you think about what co-curricular activities to get involved in, what courses to take, and how to make the most out of the experiences you are having. You learn to record and reflect upon your experiences. You begin to see patterns emerging in your areas of study and interest. This in turn helps you make decisions about your major, internship possibilities, and post-graduate career plans. Most importantly, you develop an understanding of the various elements of learning and thinking in the context of your own education up to that point.
During your junior and senior years you work most closely with the faculty members and peers in your major. As you deepen your knowledge and skills in the area of your major two things tend to happen. First, the connections you make among classes and between school and the community continue to grow. Second, you continue to reflect on, and integrate, the many parts of your education. As a senior you are able to both examine and draw upon all of your experiences in a coherent and meaningful way.
How does the program work?
As suggested above, the portfolio of your education is developed over the course of your entire college experience. You are required to prepare and present a portfolio at two moments in your college career – during the second semester of your sophomore year and toward the end of your senior year. Although these are related, the two portfolios have slightly different structures and objectives.
The principal purpose of the Sophomore Portfolio is to develop an understanding of the various aspects of learning that are represented by the Outcomes. At this stage your portfolio will present your evaluation of what the outcomes mean in terms of your personal learning and accomplishments.
The Portfolio Outcomes
All Sophomore Portfolios must include reflections and artifacts that address each of the following portfolio outcomes:
- Effective written communication
- Critical Thinking
- Multicultural perspectives
- Inclusive Leadership
- Social Responsibility
- "Depth of Knowledge" - Reflection on your chosen major
The Sophomore Portfolio should also include an Introduction that gives a brief overview of the portfolio. Many students find that their reflection on the major they have chosen (‘Depth of Knowledge’) can be integrated into an effective Introduction (placing the portfolio in the context of your major). You should also include reflections and artifacts that address any two of the following outcomes:
- Effective Oral communication
- Quantitative reasoning
- Application of knowledge
- Creativity and the arts
Your Senior Portfolio applies your more sophisticated understanding of the concepts represented by the Outcomes to an evaluation of your entire educational experience. Your portfolio is likely to contain a reflection that is longer and more integrated. You will draw together and assess the most meaningful educational experiences you have had, along with some evidence of your work and accomplishments. Much of this is likely to focus on your major, but you will find that all of your experiences will play a part.
All senior portfolios should address the most important ways you feel that you’ve grown over your years at Pine Manor College, particularly in the context of the College’s Learning Outcomes. While you may not necessarily refer to all the outcomes, you should at least be sure to include some reflection on your development with regard to Critical Thinking, Effective Writing Skills, and your experiences with regard to learning related to the College’s Mission (i.e. skills and understanding related to Inclusive Leadership and Social Responsibility). You should also include a statement about your future plans and goals, and how these have been shaped by your experiences at PMC.
Download the Portfolio Handbook (Adobe Acrobat file format).