AAC&U’s Capstones and Signature Work Project Funded by the Arthur vining davis foundations Nancy Budwig, Clark University Senior Fellow, AAC&U nbudwig@clarku.edu LEAP STATE SUMMIT, SEPTEMBER 2016

AAC&U: The Capstones and Signature Project The LEAP Challenge calls for all college students to pursue their own “signature work.” Signature work involves students integrating and applying their learning to complex problems and projects that are important to the student and important to society. All students, not just the most fortunate students, can and should be afforded the opportunity to produce capstones and signature work throughout their undergraduate experience. This AAC&U project brings several different campuses together in a learning community to focus on culminating signature work projects and how to prepare students for them.

KEY Features of LEAP Challenge Capstones & Signature Work Encourages students to connect liberal and general learning with the world beyond college. Helps students demonstrate their achievement of the LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes and their ability to integrate learning from multiple sources. Can be pursued through a variety of high impact experiences (e.g. a research project, in thematically linked courses, in a practicum or in service or community-based learning) and different campuses can take up on these differently. These projects will always include substantial writing, multiple kinds of reflection on learning, and visible results.

Participating schools The LEAP Challenge Institutions participating in the Capstones and Signature Work project are: •Augustana College (IL) •Bates College (ME) •Clark University (MA) •College of William and Mary (VA) •Connecticut College (CT) •Elizabethtown College (PA) •Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE) •Oberlin College (OH)

What Participating Schools have been doing The eight institutions work individually and collectively with leadership and support provided by AAC&U to: examine which of our students currently complete capstones and signature work, identify gaps in students' access to and preparation for capstones and signature work, designing plans and processes to organize curricula and programs so that all students are well-prepared to engage in significant capstone and signature work before they graduate.

General trends to date FROM THE SIGNATURE WORK CONSORTIUM The eight colleges and universities agreed on the importance of having culminating experiences for all students, though whether this would be a curricular requirement has differed across institutions. The process each campus used to design and implement culminating signature and capstone work has differed and proceeded at very different rates; Although all schools agreed on the importance of providing students with opportunities to integrate prior learning, where the signature and capstone work was located differed: the major the Gen Ed program other kind of campus unit or center

Clark University: One example FROM THE CONSORTIUM Curricular Framework and Capstone Work: BEFORE Program of Liberal Studies The Major Co-curricular The capstone has been a final requirement in most (but not all) majors; most students report doing a capstone seminar. Capstone Seminar

Clark University: Liberal Education and Effective Practice (LEEP) Curricular Framework A Holistic Approach to Student Learning and Development

The Clark example: Connected pathways, NETWORKS OF Support Coordinated Networks of Support Program of Liberal Studies Major Co-curricular Activities LEEP Capstone Seminar or LEEP Capstone Project: Synthesis and demonstration of the LEEP Learning Outcomes Faculty Advisor(s) LEEP Center Advisor

Concluding comments: TOP Five Things we are learning Consider whether to make the capstone a curricular requirement or whether to start small and scale later. Either way, thinking about student preparation for capstone work will be essential. There are no silver bullets, use a process to decide what works for the culture of your campus. Be reflective about where the culminating capstone work is housed – various options will work on different campuses, some better than others. For truly integrative capstone and signature work to be of optimal benefit for the students, significant professional development and training for faculty and/or staff will be needed. AAC&U provides resources and support, don’t hesitate to reach out as your campus considers this issue. Our consortium of schools has found real value in working as part of a learning community.