Living a Liberal Arts Life: The Grinnell Curse! Pew Midstates Science and Mathematics Consortium Steve Langerud Associate Dean for Experiential Education Grinnell College March 4, 2006

The Grinnell Curse The Curse What families fear How we address the fear Why we address the fear

Capstone = Finished? Another 8-10 years of growth after graduation Think intentionally about how to engage alumni in capstone thinking for themselves and with current students Engaging this group of recent alumni addresses recruitment, retention and fundraising efforts

Changing the Question for Transition What are you going to be when you grow up? Where are you going to do what you love and do well?

A Simple Plan Reframe our lives Provide students with a way to talk about their dreams Provide advisers with a way to validate the dreams of students Provide alumni with a way to practice nepotism

Intentional Serendipity: Creating Accidents and Opportunities Create the space for opportunity Develop venues to act on opportunity Celebrate the outcomes of acting on opportunity Reflect on the outcomes Make a new plan

Language to Frame Transitions Skills Issues or topics People Environment

Living a Mission Driven Life Craft a single 10 second statement that captures what you want your life to look like Synthesize skills, issues, people and environment Create a touchstone for decision making about majors, internships, jobs and graduate school Create a common language between faculty and students to discuss transitions Bring intent and focus to academic work and the liberal arts

A Sense of Place Networking

Advising for Capstone Experiences How do we engage students in conversations about these big issues? Overcoming the fear of what WE don’t know about the options beyond our own lives Validate what they are willing to share Say… –What are you thinking about? –Tell me more. –Let’s go ask.

Programs to Facilitate Transitions Wilson Program in Leadership and Enterprise Other academic programs Second year retreat Externships Internships and grants Mentoring Alumni Programs Biography