Project Title:
Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
Project Director and Other Associated Faculty and Staff:
William Lowe, Provost & V. Pres. For Academic Affairs, Metropolitan State University,
Contact: William.lowe@metrostate.edu, Tel. (651)793-1920
Susan Shumer, Director of Center for Community-Based Learning, Metropolitan State Univ., Contact: susan.shumer@metrostate.edu, Tel. (651)793-1292
Project Design:
The project sought to assist faculty to revise their courses or create new courses that will include new study units and student assignments that integrate themes of civic engagement and social responsibility. The format used was the teaching seminar whereby small groups of interdisciplinary faculty work together guided by experienced peers.
Project Evaluation and Outcomes:
The first teaching seminar was held during Fall 2004 and 8 interdisciplinary resident and community faculty redesigned courses that they would offer Spring 2005. The second teaching seminar was offered Spring 2005 and served12 faculty who formed discipline-based teams to redesign courses within their department’s offerings to incorporate civic engagement. An evaluation survey was administered with participants and they unanimously felt the teaching seminars were very valuable and appreciated the chance to work with other faculty in course development. A review of the original syllabi and revised syllabi developed by faculty was conducted by the faculty facilitator and they confirmed that significant changes were made in courses to emphasize civic engagement and social responsibility.
Lessons Learned, Dissemination and Sustainability
In addition to the teaching seminars, faculty will make presentations at the annual faculty conference in November, 2005 and at the annual Metropolitan State Univ. Civic Engagement conference. A number of new courses have been developed and submitted to the faculty committee for inclusion in the Transfer Curriculum-Ethical and Civic Responsibility. Redesigned courses will continue to be implemented by the instructors and will be used as models for other instructors who seek to teach similar courses. In addition, printed resources were acquired with CTL funds and these will be available for use by staff, faculty, students and community partners in the future.
