Creating Engaged Learning Partnerships: Undergraduate Research and Student Affairs

1. Jimmie Gahagan, PhD Julie Morris, MS Asheley Schryer, MEd Office of Student Engagement Office of Undergraduate Research University of South Carolina June 2010 Creating EngagedLearning Partnerships: Undergraduate Research and Student Affairs

2. Creating Partnerships • Review problems and goals • Solicit additional input • Partnership and program creation • Sharing successes & challenges • Idea generation

3. Research University Carnegie Classification: USC has been designated a research institution of “very high research activity” and is the only university in South Carolina to have this designation. • Flagship campus: Columbia, S.C. • Organization: 14 degree-granting colleges and schools • Degree Programs: More than 250 • Enrollment: 28,481 (Undergrad: 20,494) • Faculty: 1,560 (full-time) • Degrees Awarded: 6,466 • Athletic Nickname: Gamecocks (Go Cocks!) • School Colors: Garnet and black • USC System • Location: 8 system campuses • Degree Programs: More than 360 • Enrollment: 43,100 (Undergrad: 34,934) • Faculty: 2,132 (full-time) • Degrees Awarded: 8,433 http://www.sc.edu/aboutusc/

4. Why create partnerships?

5. Problems identified • Personnel • Resources • Marketing/Outreach • Expertise • Program development

6. Why Student Affairs?

7. Boyer Commission Report Upon enrollment, students in the research university have the right to “opportunities to interact with people of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences different from the student’s own and pursuers of knowledge at every level of accomplishment from freshmen students to senior research faculty” (1998, p. 13).

8. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators • The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) provides a list of good practices in student affairs which includes: • forg[ing] educational partnerships that advance student learning; • build[ing] supportive and inclusive communities • engag[ing] students in active learning, • us[ing] systematic inquiry to improve student and institutional performance, and • us[ing] resources effectively to achieve institutional missions and goals (2009).

9. Pascarella and Terenzini While Pascarella and Terenzini describe undergraduate research programs as “an amalgam of situational and behavioral factors intended both to provide a window on the intellectual life of the scholar and to promote students’ active involvement in their own learning, increased and more meaningful interaction with faculty members, opportunities to apply course-related theory and skills in solving real problems, and a challenging intellectual activity” (2005, p. 406)

10. Similar Missions, Shared Resources Office of Undergraduate Research Mission Statement Division of Student Affairs Mission Statement …collaborates with campus and external constituents to provide access, facilitate students' progress and persistence, and advance learning at the University of South Carolina and in the higher education community. Vision: …to create an optimal learning environment that supports students, faculty, and staff; contributes to students' achievement of learning goals; and enhances the educational experience for all constituents. …seeks to enrich the academic experience of all USC undergraduates by providing research and scholarly experiences in their chosen fields. The office promotes inquiry, discovery, and creativity in all disciplines through faculty-student mentoring relationships and the integration of instruction with research, scholarship, and creative activities.

11. Similar Missions, Shared Resources Office of Undergraduate Research Goals Division of Student Affairs Goals Teaching and Learning Quality of Life Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement Service Excellence Recognition and Visibility Diversity • Education • Early research experiences • Communicate benefits • Provide opportunities • Broadening participation • Special populations • Special situations

12. Creating partnerships

13. Creating Partnerships OUR Problems OUR Goals Education Early research experiences Communicate benefits Provide opportunities Broadening participation Special populations Special situations • Personnel • Resources • Marketing/Outreach • Expertise • Program development

14. Office of Student Engagement / Housing • Mission: …encourage students to engage in learning without limits by advancing opportunities that allow for growth and development within and beyond the classroom setting. Why? • Personnel & Resources: Graduate assistants, practicum students in Higher Education and Student Affairs, $$ • Marketing/Outreach: Access to broader student body • Expertise: Assessment, education • Program development: identified student & campus needs, offered ideas to meet needs

15. Office of Student Engagement / Housing • Education & early research experiences • benefits & opportunities • Discover Seminar • 8-week not for credit seminar • Introduction of research concepts and basic skills for first-year students living in the residence halls • Research is FUN!!!

16. Office of Student Engagement / Housing • Early research experiences & broadening participation • Residential Mini-Grant • “intro to research” projects • Encourage campus/community focus • $500-1000 for materials/supplies or travel for mentored research experience • Requirement: on-campus resident • Mentors: faculty OR staff

17. Office of Student Engagement / Housing • Education & early research experiences • benefits & opportunities • Magellan Explorers • First and second year students • Focus on discovery and exploration • LLC-tied academic courses: University 290 (based on Discover seminar)

18. Office of Student Engagement / Housing • Education, early research experiences & broadening participation • Discovery Day • Showcase of student experiences (Study Abroad, Internships, Service, Fellowship competitions, and Research)

19. Office of Student Engagement / Housing Successes & challenges Idea generation

20. First Year Seminars / University 101 • help new students make a successful transition …both academically and personally. • foster a sense of belonging, • promote engagement in … life of the university, • articulate expectations of University & faculty, • help develop and apply critical thinking skills, • help clarify [student’s] purpose, meaning, and direction. Why? • Marketing/Outreach: Access to broader student body • Program development/Resources

21. First Year Seminars / University 101 • Education & early research benefits • Presentations & assignments • Educate “Discovery for every discipline” • Show the FUN • Reduce the anxiety, “I can’t do it” attitude • Spread the word: • Magellan Scholar Program • Voyager Travel Award • Discovery Day • Mini-grants • Explorers…

22. First Year Seminars / University 101 • Education & early research experiences • benefits & opportunities • University 290 • Based on Discover seminar • 1 credit course • Introduction of research concepts and basic skills for first-year students • Research is FUN!!! • Goal: research plan by end of semester & mini-grant application

23. First Year Seminars / University 101 • Education & early research experiences • benefits & opportunities • University 101 – research section • 3 credit course • Intro to college + intro to research university • Infuse research concepts and basic skills throughout standard course • Goal: research plan by end of semester & mini-grant application

24. First Year Seminars / University 101 Successes & challenges Idea generation

25. TRIO Programs • address the unique needs of academically capable individuals who have the highest level of financial aid eligibility and who are without a family history of college attendance • supports USC in maintaining a strong commitment to student access while achieving the highest academic standards Why? • Marketing/Outreach: Access to special population • Expertise: special populations, education • Program development/Resources

26. TRIO Programs • Education, early research experiences & broadening participation • General research presentations • Educate “Discovery for every discipline” • Show the FUN • Reduce the anxiety, “I can’t do it” & “this isn’t for me” attitude • Spread the word: • Magellan Scholar Program • Voyager Travel Award • Discovery Day • Mini-grants • Explorers…

27. TRIO Programs • Education, early research experiences & broadening participation • Magellan Guarantee • Mentored research opportunities in first 2 years • “intro to research” projects • $1000 stipend per academic year • Workshops: interviews, resume, talk with faculty, what to expect in research

28. TRIO Programs Successes & challenges Idea generation

29. Study Abroad Goal …guidance through the study abroad process, provide information about study abroad program options, scholarship opportunities and diverse academic, cultural, and linguistic experiences. By developing and implementing quality programming connected to each stage of the study abroad process, we work to foster a sense of cultural awareness, open mindedness and appreciation of differences in every student. Why? • Marketing/Outreach • Expertise • Program development/Resources

30. Study Abroad • Broadening participation • Strengthening programming • Research Abroad • Expeditionary Scenic Design: Exploring "Baby with the Bathwater" in Costanta, Romania • Kiss Me, I Might Be Irish: A Visual Study of Nationality and Belonging • The application of microfinance in Mbale, Uganda

31. Community Service Programs To promote volunteer service as an integral part of the educational values of [USC]. ...cultivate programs that foster university engagement within the larger community that emphasize a deep commitment to learning through reflection. Through the integration of community service programs across the curriculum and co-curriculum, we strive to prepare students for a lifetime of community leadership and responsible citizenry. Why? • Marketing/Outreach • Expertise • Program development/Resources

32. Community Service Programs • Broadening participation • Strengthening programming • Community-Based Research • Gills Creek Watershed Research of Stream Contamination • Waverly After School Center • “The P.A.N. of Latino Children” (Physical Activity and Nutrition)

33. Study Abroad/Community Service Successes & challenges Idea generation

34. Other Programs (Student Affairs & Academic Affairs) • Honors College • Living-Learning Communities • Marketing Scholars • Students work with on-campus “clients” • Fellowships & Scholar Programs • Pre-Professional Advising • Student Success Center

35. References • Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates in the Research University. (1998). Reinventing undergraduate education: A blueprint for America’s research universities. New York: Author. • NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. (2009). Principles of good practice for student affairs. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://naspa.org/career/goodprac.cfm • Pascarella, E.T., & Terenizini, P.T. (2005). How college affects students: A third decade of research (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. • University of South Carolina: Office of Student Engagement. (2005). Officemission statement. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.housing.sc.edu/studentengagement/ • University of South Carolina: Office of Undergraduate Research. (2005). Mission statement. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.sc.edu/our/

36. Questions Contact Information Email our@sc.edu Phone (803) 777-1141