Civic Engagement

1
Civic Engagement

• Experiential Education

2
Historical Background

• According to CCSSE data for 2004, 86 of
  students indicated that they never participated
  in a community based project as part of a regular
  course requirement.
• Faculty focus groups concurred

3
Why does this matter?

• Civic engagement is an institutional student
  objective.
• According to the Higher Education Research
  Institute participating in community service
  increases retention rates, graduation rates, and
  transfer rates, all areas which according to the
  NCES-IPEDS Wright College is below the average
  for Illinois community colleges.

4
Specific Comparisons - IPEDS

• Wright College average
• Retention rate 57
• Graduation rate 21
• Continuation rate 78.7

• State Community College average
• Retention 60
• Graduation Rate 28
• Continuation rate 91.9

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What is Civic Engagement?

• Civic engagement refers to a wide range of
  learning activities, including experiential
  learning,within and on the part of the
  institution that engages the institution in
  partnerships with the communities in which it is
  located.

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What is experiential learning?

• Any activity that engages the student outside of
  the classroom in activities that relate to the
  subject matter of the class and gives the student
  an opportunity to reflect on the connection
  between class content and the outside world.

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Specific experiential education activities

• Service Learning
• Mentoring
• Practicum
• Internships
• Job shadowing

8
What has been done since Fall 2004

• Visited other programs
• Reviewed literature
• Attended Campus Compact meeting
• Surveyed full and part time faculty as to their
  interest and understanding of experiential
  education
• Held Experiential Learning Workshop
• Ordered materials for a resource library
• Attended national conference
• Developed plan for Center for Civic Engagement

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Plans for a Center for Civic Engagement (CCE)

• Wrote and applied for grants to establish center
  
• Full time director
• Full time secretarial support staff
• Release time for faculty