Engaged Learning on

Campus

SMU’s Working QEP

The purpose of Engaged Learning: Beyond the Classroom is to expand educational opportunities in which students acquire or deepen knowledge and competencies through structured volunteer, research, and/or internship experiences

Timeline

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Account Planning:Research for potential QEP

topics

Account Planning:Explore current

examples of Engaged Learning

9 10 11 12

Campaigns:How to roll out

the QEP

2009 2010

Phase II

Objectives

• Explore current practices in engaged learning• Identify best practices and potential hurdles • Capture perspectives• Fulfill Learning Outcomes of ADV 4393 course

Methodologies

• Secondary Research– Fall 2009 Account Planning Class– Examples from other schools:

• Syracuse University • University of Houston• Rice University

• Primary Research– Phases I - IV

Groups Studied

• Volunteer Programs• Internships• Undergraduate Research

Volunteer Programs

• Create leaders & active citizens• Community engagement, initiatives, & global

projects • Helps to develop the student both in and out

of the classroom

Volunteer Programs

Engineers Without Borders– Student volunteer organization– Open to all majors, not just Engineers– travel to developing countries to help improve

infrastructure deficiencies

Volunteer Programs

Engineers Without BordersWhat’s Working? • Exposes students to socioeconomic conditions different from their

own experiences• Teach students to define and solve problems

Implications for QEP• Enlightens world view beyond affluent U.S.• Enables more critical perspective of global events portrayed

by media

Volunteer Programs

The Center for Academic Community Engagement (ACE)• Understand course material by working in the community and placing

in context• Expose students to ideas and situations not they have not experienced• Live in ACE House for a year in and tutor children in poor area of Dallas

What’s Working?• Volunteer group focuses on socially involved knowledge• Provides understanding about social issues faced by Dallas, the region,

and nation• Promotes teaching, knowledge, research, and develop sense of “public

good” in classroom

Volunteer ProgramsLeadership and Community Involvement

• SPARC: participation & community involvement & ongoing service activities

• LEAD: leadership education, activities, and development

What’s Working?• Volunteer group focuses on socially involved knowledge• Provides understanding about social issues faced by Dallas,

the region, and nation• Promotes teaching, knowledge, research, and develop

sense of “public good” in classroom

Volunteer Programs

Implications for QEP

• Engenders selflessness and sense of “the Greater Good”

• Framing through academic studies provides social and historical context for experiences

• Graduates are more grounded

• More aware of social responsibility to their community and the world

Internship Programs

All of the internship programs strive to provide students with real-life work experience to help them apply what they are learning class to the outside world and vice versa.

Internship Programs

Dedman Internships:

• Students can get credit if their internship relates to their major

• Students observe how the professional world connects to the classroom

• Students are able to gain valuable work experience before graduation

• See how their major can be used in the future

Internship Programs

Engineering Internships • Lyle School of Engineering Co-op Program began 1925• 5-year program & offers eighteen months of work

experience. • Allows students to build resumes & gain real experience

while still being in college.• Program Goal: “to get you exposure and experience so you

can figure out what you want and don’t want to do when you graduate.”

Internship Programs

Marketing Internships• Program is still under development

• 100 hours of work time in one semester

• Counts for 1 Pass/Fail credit hour

• Must be related to marketing curriculum

• Expected to be around 25 internships when program is fully established

• Wants to be as cohesive and prestigious as the Engineering Internship program

Internship Programs

What’s Working?• Allow students to gain practical industry experience

• Place students in their field of study• Provides students with competitive advantage and beginnings

of a network

Implications for QEP• Augment academic degrees with hands-on practical experience• Graduates are better prepared for the workplace• Improves chances of landing jobs

Undergraduate Research

• Assistant Director in the Office of Leadership and Community Development (Member of the QEP Committee)

• Senior Lecturer and Director of the Center for Academic Community Engagement

Undergraduate Research

ACE Fellowship Program• (4) $2,500 annual Fellowships• Funded by SMU• The only research program (currently) tied to Social

Responsibility

What’s Working?• Opportunity for deep exploration of subject matter• Real social issues within a research framework• Funding from SMU

What’s Not Working?

• Lack of resources/Lack of Funding

• Poor Communications

Hurdles for Implementing the QEP• Skepticism:

– Doubtful of possibility of actual change• Commitment from Top

– Need administration’s visible commitment for QEP to work

• Provincialism– Must demonstrate how the QEP will help everyone

Communication Priorities

Awareness and Assimilation of the QEP Message 

• Constituents will accept the QEP linearly, similar to the purchase funnel in marketing:

• Become aware of the QEP– What is the acronym Q.E.P. stand for?– What is it? (SMU’s SACS accreditation process)– What is SMU’s specific QEP?

• Believe in it – Why should they believe it’s true? (see next section)

• Actively support it– Initiate positive viral communications, orally and through social media– Take personal action to further the goals of Engaged Learning

Key Messaging

• Importance of QEP to SMU’s accreditation• A considerable amount of SMU’s energy and resources

will be dedicated to this mission over the next 10 years • This is a priority for the Administration, Staff and Faculty

at the University, and will continue to be so for the next decade

• The QEP will benefit everyone at SMU • Demonstrate to faculty how it will add value to them

individually and how they are critical in making this happen   

Getting the Word Out

• Engaged Learning provides unique opportunities for students to receive a well-rounded education as well as valuable life experiences that can be leveraged in the job market.

Timeline

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Account Planning:Research for potential QEP

topics

Account Planning:Explore current

examples of Engaged Learning

9 10 11 12

Campaigns:How to roll out

the QEP

2009 2010

Phase III