Students Talk about Developing a Social Justice Identity: Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP) AACU: Diversity Learning and Student Success: Policy, Practice, Privilege March 28, 2014

Students Talk about Developing a Social Justice Identity: Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP)

AACU: Diversity Learning and Student Success: Policy, Practice, PrivilegeMarch 28, 2014

Student Presenters:Zain Al-Halawani James Henry Blattner Hannah (Nan) BoyleMeredith BurkeKimberly CuiJeane Em DuboseLello Guluma Mark HaidarSamuel LowenthalMatthew Williams

David Schoem, DirectorRebecca Christensen, Ph.D. Candidate, ResearcherJessica Weed, Coordinator, Community Building Maya Williams, Coordinator, Diversity Initiatives

MCSP Mission and Goals

Mission StatementThe Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP) is a residential learning community emphasizing deep learning, engaged community, meaningful civic engagement/community service learning and intercultural understanding and dialogue. Students, faculty, community partners and staff think critically about issues of community, seek to model a just, diverse, and democratic community, and wish to make a difference throughout their lives as participants and leaders involved in local, national and global communities. GoalsDeep Learning: Engagement with Ideas, Ways of Knowing, Transition to College, Academic Success, Learning about CommunityEngaged Community: A Scholarly Community, A Safe and Accepting Environment, An Involved, Participatory Community, A Focus on the Individual and the GroupMeaningful Civic Engagement /Community Service Learning: High Quality Service Learning, Reflection, Leadership Development, Sustainable Partnerships, Long Term CommitmentDiverse Democracy, Intercultural Understanding and Dialogue: A Diverse Community, Participation in Intergroup Dialogue, Commitment to Strong Democracy, Reflection on Social Justice, Model Good Practice

Faculty, Staff and Student Leadership
DirectorAssociate DirectorAdministrative Assistant

MCSP-Linked Cross-Departmental Faculty (10-15)

Coordinator, Community EngagementCoordinator, Community Building and ProgrammingCoordinator, Diversity Initiatives

Resident Advisors (7)

Peer Advisors (18: 6 assigned to each coordinator)

Peer Mentors (22)

MCSP Demographics 2013-2014

ToalFYSStudent LeadersFYS116 (70%)SOPH43JUNIOR1SENIOR6TOTAL166

SexMale85 (51%)70 (60%) 15 (30%)Female 81 (49%) 46 (40%) 35 (70%) School/CollegeLS&A 144 (87%)Engineering16 (10%)Other6 (3%) ETHNICITYWhite94 (56.6%)69 (59%) 25 (50%) African American 25 (15.1%)18 (16%) 7 (14%)Asian American 19 (11.4%)10 ( 9%) 9 (18%)Hispanic/Latino 10 ( 4.8%)8 ( 7%) 2 (4%)Native American4 ( 2.4%)0 ( 0%) 4 (8%)International14 ( 8.4%)11 ( 9%) 3 (6%)Students of Color 58 (34.9%)36 ( 31%) 22 (44%) Intl. & Stdts of Color72 (43.4%)47 (41%) 25 (50%)

MCSP Seminar Courses Fall 2013
Creative Arts and Community - Julie Babcock, EnglishCommunity Research - Rona Carter, PsychologyEnvironment, Religions, Spirituality, & Sustainability - Jim Crowfoot, Program in the Environment Nonviolence: From Montgomery to the World - Scott Ellsworth, Afroamerican and African StudiesWriting and Academic Inquiry: Food from Farm to Table - Christine Modey, EnglishEnvironmental Literature - Virginia Murphy, Program in the EnvironmentSocial Justice, Identity, Diversity, and Community - David Schoem, University CoursesCollege, Culture, & Sustainability: Living on a Changed Planet - Mike Shriberg, Program in the Environment

***The Student and the University - Wendy Woods, University Courses

MCSP Civic Engagement CoursesWinter 2014

Empowering Families & Communities - Rona Carter, Psychology/American CultureProject Community - SociologyProject Outreach - PsychologyIntergroup Dialogue - Psychology/Sociology/University CourseThe Portfolio Project - William Alexander, EnglishThe Atonement Project - Ashley Lucas, Residential CollegeSolar Cells Renewable Energy from the Sun - Jamie Phillips and Thomas Bowden, EngineeringGreen Engineering: Harnessing the Wind - Roger Dean De Roo and Rod Johnson, Engineering

Community Service
Action Teams: Centered on education, reflection, and direct service with various issues. Each Action Team partners with a community organization.Borders and Immigration Environment and SustainabilityFinancial LiteracyGender and SexualityHuman RightsRural and Urban Poverty

University-Community Social Justice FIlm SeriesOngoing Community PartnershipsNeighbors Building BrightmoorSHOCK Theater TroupeSmile Bringer SingersEnvironmental Community Program

Diversity Initiatives
Programs (Planned By Our Community):Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Circle of Unity: Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Indian Fusion Dance Event: Surrounding the Universitys Indian ThemeDetroit Exploration Day: Exploring museums and restaurants in DetroitActivism in Detroit: Partnership with the Community Action and Social Change

Planned By other Organizations on Campus:Detroit Women Speak: A Community Film on Race, Justice, Gender in Detroit Silesha: The annual Indian American Student Association (IASA) Dance ShowSouth Asian Association Network (SAAN): 8 students attended this fully funded conference

Dialogues and Programs

Dialogues:Offensive Jokes and Slurs: How they affect us and others on campus.Cultural Appropriation: Halloween Customs and their meanings.Detroit Dialogue: Identifying Diversity in Detroit: Unpacking stereotypes/perceptions.Relationships Dialogue: Conversation about healthy relationships, hooking up, and sexualized violence.Social Class in Session: Reflecting on our status on campus.Diversity on Campus: Exploring Race issues and relations.

Programs:Stress Relief: Balance Massage Center: free massages and cookies for studentsStudy Abroad Presentation: Study Abroad work, volunteer and study opps.Summer Presentation: Summer Opportunities on and off of CampusDinner with the Director: dinner with Detroit students about micro aggressions and climate.Staff Mentoring: Staff met with each first year student in our program.Tutoring: managed the tutoring program

Community Building Programs
Welcome Week: Low Ropes Course and Day of Service

Peer Advisors for Programming BoardOrganize Community Building Activities for MCSPEducational, Cultural, and SocialCreate strong bonds with other Communities in East Quad Dorm and with our On-Campus AlumsCanoe Trip down Huron RiverFootball Watch party w/AlumsDay Trip to Cedar Point for HalloweekendsWinterfest End of Year CelebrationCider Mill and Corn Maze at Talladay Farms Annual MCSProm

Off-Campus Overnight Winter Retreat

Dissertation Abstract
Sample: 2013-2014 MCSP first year student cohortPurpose: Exploration of how intentional and interconnected curricular, co-curricular, and informal diversity experiences in one residential learning community shape students social justice learning and development

Design: Case study methodology: Integration of survey, interview, observation, and document analysis data

Outcomes: MCSP students social justice conceptualizations, attitudes, and behaviors over the course of their first year in college

MCSP - www.lsa.umich.edu/mcsp/
David Schoem: dschoem@umich.edu

Becky Christensen: beckydc@umich.edu

Jessica Weed: jessweed@umich.edu

Maya Williams: mangelic@umich.edu
Students:

-Zain Al-Halawani: zainhala@umich.edu -James Blattner: jhblatt@umich.edu -Hannah Boyle: nanboyle@umich.edu -Meredith Burke: merburke@umich.edu -Kimberley Cui: cuikim@umich.edu -Jeane Em Dubose: jeaneemd@umich.edu -Lello Guluma: lkguluma@umich.edu -Mark Haidar: mrhaidar@umich.edu -Samuel Lowenthal: slowenthal@umich.edu -Matthew Williams: mrwil@umich.edu