Transcript Document
Improving, Expanding, and
Institutionalizing Civic Learning and
Community Engagement
Dr. Curt Brungardt
Dr. Jill Arensdorf
Mr. Brett Bruner
Dr. Christie Brungardt
Ms. Regan Ochs
Introductions and Framing
Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
Goal: To improve, expand and
institutionalize civic learning and
community engagement.
Civic Engagement at FHSU: An educational
activity (curricular and/or co-curricular)
that is designed to develop civic
knowledge, skills and values resulting in
action that has a direct impact on the
quality of life in a community.
Presentation Overview
History of civic engagement at FHSU
Continuous improvement process
Assessment data
Early recommendations
Plans for the future
History of Civic Engagement at
FHSU
Fall 2001 – Service-Learning Initiative
3 FHSU Faculty involved in state S-L initiative
Provost formed University S-L Committee
○ Compiled S-L course list
○ KPI
Fall 2002 – Center for Civic Leadership
(CCL)
Nationally recognized institute for citizen
leadership development
History of Civic Engagement at
FHSU
Fall 2003 – American Democracy Project
(ADP)
Campus Audit
University-wide ADP Vision Team
○ Common reading and monthly discussions
○ University Goal with Kansas Board of Regents
Activities: Campus/Community/Regional/National
○ Readership Program
○ Times Talks
○ Public Forums
○ Service-Learning Initiative
○ Political Engagement Activities
○ Service trips (local, state, regional, national,
international)
Developmental Process
Year 1 (2011 – 2012)
American Democracy Project 2.0
Struggles with assessment
Crucible Moment released
Developmental Process
Year 2 (2012 – 2013)
Seminar class (literature review)
Civic engagement audit
Creation of FHSU Civic Learning and
Community Engagement Taskforce (CLCE)
Survey faculty and staff
Input from focus groups
Evaluate assessment data
Develop the “List of 8” (recommendations)
LEAD 50 institutions (NASPA)
Process – Fall Seminar Course
Assignments
Literature Review
○ The Crucible Moment
Facilitated discussions
Campus Review
Reflections and Recommendations
Themes Emerged from Literature
Volunteerism vs. civic engagement
Work “with” communities not “for”
Moving students along civic engagement continuum
Embed civic engagement in the decision making
process of the institutions
FHSU Civic Engagement
Inventory
Assessment
Review of National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Data
Review of Civic Engagement Audit Data
Faculty/Staff Campus-Wide Survey (n=164)
Focus Groups
Student Affairs
Provost’s Council
Community
Service-Learning Committee
Interviews
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Provost Larry Gould
Assessment
Student Affairs Process
Presentation by Task Force Chair & Co-
Chair at Divisional Directors Meeting
Focus groups at next Directors Meeting
facilitated by divisional representatives on
Task Force:
○ Director of Persistence & Retention
○ Director of International Student Services
○ Assistant Director of Memorial Union
○ Assistant Director of Residential Life
Preliminary Findings – Student
Affairs
Divisional Focus Group Results
Emerging themes shared with CLCE Task Force:
Opportunity to approach civic engagement from multiple
angles due to diverse functional areas represented
Value of civic engagement at institutional level but less
congruence in terms of the following:
○ Assessment
○ Staffing
○ Fiscal resources
Need for standard definition & frame of reference
regarding “civic engagement”
Less collaborating & more competing through duplication
of efforts
As we expand, all parts need to play a role – not just the
CCL & the Division of Student Affairs
What position best describes
your role at FHSU?
2.4%
4.9%
12.2%
Teaching Faculty
41.5%
Staff
Administrator
13.4%
Administrator/Faculty
Program Specialist
Other
25.6%
Factors that would encourage involvement
Factors that serve as barriers to involvement
Additional Preliminary Findings
Pockets of engagement across the FHSU
campus
Lack of “telling the story”
Must be comprehensive – curricular, cocurricular, and culture
Some faculty and departments are
“engagement superstars,” while others do
not participate
Must be linked to merit, tenure, and
promotion processes
Interest from faculty and staff is present
Early Recommendations
What’s Next?
Year Three - 2013-14
Additional data collection
○ Student civic engagement climate survey
○ Interviews
Revision of the “List of 8”
Develop and Present FHSU’s Civic
Investment Plan
Questions
Dr. Curt Brungardt, [email protected]
Dr. Jill Arensdorf, [email protected]
Mr. Brett Bruner, [email protected]
Dr. Christie Brungardt, [email protected]
Ms. Regan Ochs, [email protected]
www.fhsu.edu/ccl
www.fhsu.edu/studentaffairs
www.fhsu.edu/leadership