Distinguished - Develops a clear and comprehensive mission statement. The considerations listed in the assignment instructions are thoroughly incorporated into the mission statement.

Proficient - Develops a mission statement. The considerations listed in the assignment instructions are somewhat incorporated into the mission statement.

Basic - Develops a limited mission statement. Many considerations listed in the assignment instructions may not be incorporated into the mission statement.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a mission statement; however, many considerations listed in the assignment instructions are not incorporated into the mission statement.

Non-Performance - The mission statement is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively establishes the mission statement’s meaning to the department or organization.

Proficient - Establishes the mission statement’s meaning to the department or organization. Some minor details are missing.

Basic - Somewhat establishes the mission statement’s meaning to the department or organization. Mission statement somewhat lacks relevancy to the department or organization and/or is missing some relevant details.

Below Expectations - Attempts to establish the mission statement’s meaning to the department or organization; however, the mission statement lacks relevancy to the department or organization and/or is incomplete.

Non-Performance - The mission statement’s meaning to the department or organization is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Creates meaningful correlations among experiences outside of the classroom to deepen understanding of field of study and to broaden own viewpoints.

Proficient - Compares life experiences and academic knowledge to distinguish differences and similarities while acknowledging perspectives other than own.

Basic - Recognizes correlation between life experiences, academic texts, and ideas perceived as similar and related to own interests.

Below Expectations - Briefly comments about connections between life experiences and academic texts.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Creates new knowledge derived from a novel or unique idea, question, format, or product.

Proficient - Constructs an original idea, question, format, or product.

Basic - Attempts to construct an original or unique idea, question, format, or product.

Below Expectations - Student reinvents available ideas.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses appropriate, pertinent, and persuasive content to discover and develop sophisticated ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Proficient - Uses appropriate and pertinent content to discover ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Basic - Uses appropriate and pertinent content, but does not apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall, content assists in shaping the written work.

Below Expectations - Uses content, though it may be unrelated or inappropriate to the topic. Content does not contribute toward the development of the written work, and may distract the reader from its purpose.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic -Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements.

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Below Expectations - A fraction of the page requirement is completed.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.