1. From Gap Year to Global Scholars: Establishing a continuum of engagement
Joe O’Shea, pH.D.
Center for Undergraduate Research & Academic Engagement
Florida State university
Cre.fsu.edu

2. Continuum of Engagement
To what end? Advance a scholar-citizen model: cultivate students’ talents and empower them to use these to improve the public good
How? Scaffold high-impact practices in continuum of curricular and co-curricular engagement
Balance challenge and support
Be accessible and overcome “old white man’s paradigm”
Provide multiple entry points to continuum
Pre-matriculation to graduation

3. Gap years!

4. Gap years!
Establish university deferment policy (colleges’ policies on American Gap Association website)
Year of experiential education (intern, volunteer, work, or some combination; often overseas)
Unlock students’ potential:
Increase motivation and curiosity; retention and graduation rates; higher GPAs
Cultivates protective factors for mental health: moral purpose; pro-social values; resilience; grit
As with all HIPs, particularly beneficial for underrepresented students
Access problem: financial and other support
FSU (up to $50K in scholarships); UNC; Tufts; Princeton; State of Maryland’s pilot program
Help students build on gap year when arrive on campus

5. Undergraduate research
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)
350 students from all majors in ; modeled on UM program
1st & 2nd year students; some transfer and veteran; partnership with CARE & work study
Year-long research assistantship with faculty, grad student, or local company (materials grants)
Mentored/taught by upperclassmen via one credit hour courses; introduction to university life and research
Present research at end-of-year university-wide symposium
Move toward independent scholarship (IDEA grants for summer research ~$100K; senior theses, etc.)

6. International Service-Learning
Global Scholars: internship/international service-learning program with nonprofits in developing countries
Nearly 50 students annually; strong focus on CARE and other underrepresented/low-income students (40%) with $50K in scholarships
Student apply in Fall, training in the Spring via a one credit hybrid course, and then serve for 2-3 months overseas
Each student must interview and be accepted by director of nonprofit (via Omprakash)
Weekly reflections and blog posts
Research-based capstone project
Fall one credit course to process, reflect, share, and build on experience (e.g., more research)
Regina Lee in Ghana

7. entrepreneurship Tech Fellows
Tech sector needs diversity; not all white nerds like me!
Pilot summer 2016 w/ four CARE students
Funded internships with TechStars Accelerator/Seed Fund
2 in Chicago
1 in Detroit
1 in Berlin
Return & mentor/teach other students in spring; repeat cycle
Bruce will talk about social entrepreneurship later

8. Thank you!