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
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Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
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Goal: To improve, expand and
institutionalize civic learning and
community engagement.
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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
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History of Civic Engagement at
FHSU
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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
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Fall 2002 – Center for Civic Leadership
(CCL)
 Nationally recognized institute for citizen
leadership development
History of Civic Engagement at
FHSU
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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
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Year 1 (2011 – 2012)
 American Democracy Project 2.0
 Struggles with assessment
 Crucible Moment released
Developmental Process
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Year 2 (2012 – 2013)
 Seminar class (literature review)
 Civic engagement audit
 Creation of FHSU Civic Learning and
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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
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Assignments
 Literature Review
○ The Crucible Moment
 Facilitated discussions
 Campus Review
 Reflections and Recommendations
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Themes Emerged from Literature
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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
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Review of National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Data
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Review of Civic Engagement Audit Data
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Faculty/Staff Campus-Wide Survey (n=164)
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Focus Groups
 Student Affairs
 Provost’s Council
 Community
 Service-Learning Committee
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Interviews
 Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
 Provost Larry Gould
Assessment
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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