What is Rigor Beyond the Classroom?

1. Scope What is Rigor Beyond the Classroom? “Beyond The Classroom” activities include:InternshipsResearch Service Learning Clubs and Other Extracurricular Activities Study AbroadProjects leading to a product such as a tour, service, ad campaign, or brochure Academic/Residential Partnership Programs

2. Advantages Advantages of Beyond the Classroom Activities • Authentic activities are essential to development of rigor, relevance, reflection, high self expectations, citizenship, and commitment to lifelong learning • Interaction among individuals of diverse backgrounds is often intrinsic to these activities • Extends the learning environment so that growth and intellectual development are immersive • Considered like an extra class at some universities • Citizenship • Mentoring is Intrinsic to Beyond the Classroom Activities • Project Direction and Professional Development of Student • Modeling and Lifestyle Choices

3. Advantages Writing and Reflection Are Often Integral to Beyond the Classroom Activities • Writing promotes development of critical thinking most effectively when it is juxtaposed with scholarly materials of the discipline • Writing, Multimedia Projects, and Writing Groups all promote scholarship, engagement, and innovation • Research: Lab Notebooks, Manuscripts, Theses • Service Learning: Journals, Papers • Projects: Products • Study Abroad: Journals, Research/Study Papers

4. Recommendation Develop and Maintain Lists/Catalogs • What are the courses? • What is the extent of faculty and student participation? • Promote Student Access • Share expertise among faculty

5. Recommendation Assessment • Develop unique course type descriptors for the mainframe to promote assessment of undergraduate research, service learning, project based courses, etc.

6. Recommendation Maintain Rigor In Beyond the Classroom Activities • Quality may be uneven • Must ensure attendance/active participation • Faculty should develop guidelines, standards, and mechanisms to enhance quality • Heads, Deans, Directors should exercise oversight, provide guidance, and encourage development of rigorous programs

7. Recommendation Promote Involvement of Faculty and Students • Provide information, support, guidance for faculty in development and management of programs • Develop rewards for directing students in research, service learning, internship, and class projects • Opportunities and expectations of faculty and students must be clear

8. Recommendation Residential Based Programs Extend Learning Beyond the Classroom • Language Residence Halls • Honors Dorm • Franklin Residential College • Freshman College Summer Experience • Learning Communities • Maintain and Expand these residential based academic programs

9. Recommendation Promote Engagement in Extracurricular Activities, Lectures, and Cultural Events • Emphasize personal growth • Link to journal/writing assignments • Link to course grading • Use question on quiz/test • Extra credit points • Replace low quiz grade

10. Problem IRB Clearance Hinders Engagement With Human Subjects • Class project based research cannot be shared or available for publication if not approved by IRB • Approval mechanism too slow for projects arising during semester • The university applies federal standards for the protection of all subjects involved in university research regardless of whether that research is federally funded • University should consider whether other mechanisms of regulatory oversight would provide a sufficient level of protection of human subjects involved in student based research in a timely manner

11. Beyond the Classroom Team Luke Naeher Joe Crim Parker Middleton Linda Grant Tom Eaton Melissa Freeman Gary Green George Velllidis Gayle Andrews Tom Lauth Marcus Fechheimer