1. Enhancing Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement Work Through Institutional Peer Sharing Brett L. Bruner, M.S. Director of First Year Experience/Persistence & Retention Chair, Division of Student Affairs – Community Engagement Committee Jacob Patrick Graduate Assistant for First Year Experience & Orientation

2. Overview Learning Outcomes Introductions of Presenters Why are You Here? Sharing of the FHSU Experience The NASPA Lead Initiative on Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement Engaged in a Lead Initiative Experience Application to Your Campus

3. Learning Outcomes As a result of attending this session, participants will: Identify the purpose of the NASPA Lead Initiative on Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement Simulate a peer-to-peer sharing representative example of the Lead Initiative small-group sharing process Articulate 1 new strategy or 1 strategy to enhance an existing civic engagement or volunteer service program on their campus

4. Presenters Jacob PatrickBrett Bruner

5. WHY ARE YOU?

6. FHSU Experience History of Developing Citizens & Civic Leaders – 1980s & 1990s General education revision with goal of producing civic-minded graduates Expansion of Docking Institute of Public Affairs programming to engage student & faculty in civic & public issues – Early 2000s Establishment of the Center for Civic Leadership Joining of the national American Democracy Project Creation of the University Service-Learning Committee Creation of Tigers in Service – funding provided by SGA

7. FHSU Experience History of Developing Citizens & Civic Leaders – Current New initiatives surrounding hunger – Establishment of Victor E. Garden – Establishment of Tiger Exchange Food Pantry Incorporation of the Global Challenges initiatives (through American Association of State Colleges & Universities) Establishment of the Service-Learning Fellows Program

8. FHSU Experience Spring 2014 – Process to Develop a Civic Investment Plan 1.Both students & faculty/staff alike agree that FHSU should place a high priority & provide support to increase civic learning & engagement activities. 2.Although there are many civic learning & engagement activities on campus, most of the work is concentrated in a few isolated pockets & in most cases with little coordination & collaboration. 3.While the assessment data recognizes the volume of engagement activities, it also illustrates only a minority of FHSU students participating in these activities.

9. FHSU Experience Spring 2014 – Process to Develop a Civic Investment Plan 4.FHSU has failed to develop & adopt a comprehensive, cohesive & unifying philosophy & approach to guide its citizenship development work. 5.While the university mission statement clearly calls for the development of citizens as a goal, the university’s strategic planning documents fail to acknowledge civic learning & engagement as an institutional priority. 6.Over the last 2 decades, FHSU has built a strong civic engagement foundation & we want to move to be a premier “engaged campus.”

10. FHSU Experience The “List of 8” to Institutionalize & Expand CLDE Work 1.The development of the “engaged scholar.” 2.An academic focus for civic learning & engagement. 3.Institutional intentionality. 4.A comprehensive & cohesive approach to CLDE. 5.A reciprocal partnership with our various communities. 6.A framework for CLDE that educates for full citizenship.

11. FHSU Experience The “List of 8” to Institutionalize & Expand CLDE Work 7. A campus structure & culture that models CLDE. 8.CLDE strategies that address our diverse student population. – International students – Virtual/distance learning students – KAMS/students under the age of 18

12. FHSU Experience Student Affairs Key CLDE Focus Areas for 2014-2015 Establish a common definition of an “engaged student affairs educator” that aligns with institutional priorities, the FHSU Division of Student Affairs Learning Domains, NASPA’s Lead Initiative on CLDE, & the Center for Civic Leadership Partner with the Division of Student Affairs – Professional Development Committee to host a staff training & development session on civic engagement (what is it?)

13. FHSU Experience Student Affairs Key CLDE Focus Areas for 2014-2015 Partner with the Division of Student Affairs – Higher Education Student Affairs Graduate Assistant Team to host a GA training & development session on civic engagement Utilize Sponsler & Hartley’s (2013) NASPA Brief 5 Things Student Affairs Professionals Can Do to Institutionalize Civic Engagement as a common reading experience for staff Partner with the Division of Student Affairs – Holiday Gathering Committee to add a civic engagement element to the event

14. FHSU Experience Student Affairs Key CLDE Focus Areas for 2014-2015 Provide training for faculty members on utilizing Tiger[Link] to document & reflect on academic civic learning & community engagement experiences Establish a Tiger[Link] curriculum focused on civic engagement Add civic engagement into Student Organization Awards Reception Continue & enhance the Serviceships experience through FYE

15. FHSU Experience Student Affairs Key CLDE Focus Areas for 2014-2015 Add a civic engagement component to Fall Family Weekend (Sept.), ‘Lil Sibs Weekend (Feb.), & Spring Family Reunion (Apr.) Prepare students for careers in public service, such as AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Teach for America & City Year Utilize the Sebelius Lecture Series as a curricular & co- curricular civic engagement element Collect data from event registration in Tiger[Link] on CLDE

16. FHSU Experience Student Affairs Key CLDE Focus Areas for 2014-2015 Include a required civic engagement component into RA programming model Develop a common component to student leader training that incorporates successful practice of “community organizing” Partner with SGA, UAB & RHA to provide training focused on citizen-leader development in shared governance Infuse civic engagement into International Student Orientation

17. HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT THEM? With so many great ideas…

18. Lead Initiative NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education 3 rd year – 92 colleges & universities “Commitment to encouraging & highlighting the work of student affairs in making civic learning & democratic engagement a part of every student’s college education”

19. Lead Initiative Commitments as a Lead Initiative Institution: – To build clear & tangible CLDE activities into student affairs division strategic goals & learning outcomes – To collect & report data on the efficacy of campus efforts using tools that measure gains in CLDE – To create strategies in collaboration with students that increase civic learning & help solve community problems through collective action

20. Lead Initiative Participation in the NASPA Annual Conference pre-conference session for Lead Initiative members Opportunity to participate in the joint CLDE summer meeting co-sponsored by: – NASPA – American Democracy Project (ADP) – The Democracy Commitment (TDC)

21. Lead Initiative Lead Cohorts – small groups with variety of institutions & Lead Institution type (Lead 1, Lead 2, Lead 3, or LCI): – California State University-San Bernardino – Fort Hays State University (KS) – Grand Valley State University (MI) – Illinois State University – Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis – Kennesaw State University (GA) – San Francisco State University (CA) – Texas A&M University-Central Texas – University of Nevada-Reno – University of West Florida

22. NASPA Brief Sponsler & Hartley’s (2013) NASPA Brief 5 Things Student Affairs Professionals Can Do to Institutionalize Civic Engagement 1.Recognize that successful civic engagement efforts are an expression of the central mission of the institution. 2.Establish clear definitions of civic engagement. 3.Create a campus ethos for civic engagement. 4.Use the many channels of the cocurriculum. 5.Know if you are being successful.

23. Cohort Simulation The Stewardship of Place – A Civic Mission in Higher Education – How do we teach students to serve as stewards of their current & future communities? Partnerships Between Academic & Student Affairs – How do academic & student affairs colleagues partner & collaborate to support student learning through civic engagement?

24. Cohort Simulation Civic Pathways – How is your institution helping to forge civic pathways for students? Engaging Diverse Students – How does your institutional programming intentionally provide civic learning & democratic engagement opportunity for commuter/off- campus students, first-generation students, adult learner/post- traditional students, international students, low-income students?

25. Cohort Simulation Developing Community Partnerships – How are community partnerships developed, nurtured & maintained? Assessment of Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement – How does your institution write departmental/unit level learning outcomes related to CLDE work?

26. APPLICATION TO YOUR CAMPUS What is 1 new strategy that you can bring to CLDE work on your campus? OR What is 1 thing you can do to enhance an existing strategy to CLDE work on your campus?

27. Enhancing Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement Work Through Institutional Peer Sharing Brett L. Bruner, M.S. blbruner@fhsu.edu Jacob Patrick jwpatrick@fhsu.edu