The Civic Scholarship Initiative Programat the

University of Puget Sound

Bruce Mann

Professor of Economics

Director of the Civic Scholarship Initiative Program

July 2008

University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA

Located in a major metropolitan area and urban region Primarily undergraduate residential

2,700 full equivalent studentsTraditional disciplinary based courses and degreesSome specialized programs and degree optionsRequired core curriculumNo athletic scholarship programCost about $40,000/yearMore than 90% of students receive financial support

FacultyAbout 220 full time faculty98% with Ph.D. otherwise terminal degree

Student faculty ratio: 11:1Average class size = 18 90% of classes number less than 30 students

University of Puget SoundMission Statement

The University . . . maintains a strong commitment to teaching excellence, scholarly engagement, and fruitful student-faculty interaction. . . . [to] develop . . . a lifetime of intellectual curiosity, active inquiry, and reasoned independence. . . . encourages a rich knowledge of self and others, an appreciation of commonality and difference, the full, open, and civil discussion of ideas, thoughtful moral discourse, and the integration of learning, preparing . . . to meet the highest tests of democratic citizenship. . . . to assist in the unfolding of creative and useful lives.

Civic Scholarship InitiativeMission Statement

The Civic Scholarship Initiative supports programs that join together the south Puget Sound region and the University of Puget Sound’s faculty and students in projects of mutual concern.

The initiative provides real-world laboratories for faculty and students to pursue their research and teaching objectives while partnering with regional organizations to solve problems, develop policy, and educate the public on issues of regional and national significance.

Avenues of Impact for CSI

• Develop and coordinate community-based research and projects

• Assist faculty in teaching and course-related project opportunities

• Enhance existing non-course related academic programs

• Encourage faculty to seek new forms of engagement with community

Desired Outcomes

• A better place to learn, teach, and conduct research.• Enhanced institutional visibility• Campus and community connections• Publishable research• Productive engagement in local affairs by faculty• A model of academic scholarship in a civic context• Access to external funding

The Civic Scholarship Initiative should produce:

CSI Programs and Projects

• Nearshore Restoration: one faculty, multiple student groups, academic consortium and private sector

• Homelessness Policy: four faculty, three student researchers, ten student assistants, public sector, external funding

• Affordable Housing: two faculty, three student research assistants, public sector

• Music Brass Camp: two faculty, two students assistants, park district, external funding

• Physician Life Long Learning: ten faculty, twenty students, seminar with medical society, external funding

CSI Programs and Projects(Continued)

• Local Economic Forecast: two faculty, four students, community program, external funding

• Community Theatre Collaboration: six faculty, hundreds of local school children, community involvement

• Senior University: five faculty, external funding• Transfer Development Rights: two faculty, three student

research assistants, public/private partnership, external funding

• Art on the Avenue: one faculty, local business district• Race and Pedagogy: multiple faculty, community based

project

Strengths of CSI Program

• Enhanced research opportunities• Local area laboratory context• Relatively inexpensive: $10 – 20,000/year• Ease of administration: part-time faculty director

and support staff• Faculty buy-in and support of programs• Close faculty-student interaction• Student research potential• Community support