Aquinas College Ireland Program

1. Aquinas CollegeIreland Program 40 years of Cultural Immersion and Community Engagement

2. Institutional Commitment to Community Engagement & Service Mission & Vision College Strategic Plan Publications (website and Aquinas Magazine) Faculty Handbook – promotion and tenure “evidence of academic-based service learning activities”

3. Community An Engaged Campus RESEARCH TEACHING SERVICE

4. Co-Curricular Engagement and Service Project Unite: Love Where You Live! 14 week-long Service Trips Student-led service through LLCs, Honors, Athletics, Residence Life, Scholarships, CAVA, SAC, & Service clubs

5. Service-Learning, Community Engagement and the Curriculum • 2012-13 Academic Year • 1,274 (61%) of students engaged in service • 465 students engaged in curricular service • 15% of courses reported a service-learning component

6. Student Engagement • Among our 2013 Seniors*: • 53% participated in a course-based community project • 76% completed or will complete an internship, student-teaching, or clinical placement • 29% participated in a study-abroad program *Aquinas College data from the 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement

7. In the beginning… • Expand study abroad opportunities • Irish studies with commitment to community • Gertrude Horgan’s fortuitous journey to Tully Cross in 1973 • Leadership of Dominican sisters: 19 semesters of service from 6 sisters

8. Tully Cross, Ireland • A unique rural cultural immersion experience • Study Center located at the Renvyle Thatched Cottages • Spring semester: 16 weeks • Led by Aquinas Professors

9. Tully Cross

10. Tully Cross

11. Academics • Required: • Irish Literary Heritage (4 credits) • Irish History (4 credits) • Experiencing Irish Culture (4 credits) • Electives: • Hiking (1 credit) • Teacher’s Aides in National Schools (3 credits) • Ireland Community Aides Internships (3 credits)

12. History of Community Involvement in Tully Cross • Foster program • Christ the King Church • Teachers’ Aides Program

13. Teachers’ Aides in National Schools • Participating Schools: Tully, Eagle's Nest, Lettergesh and Letterfrack • These are two-room schools with one room for the upper levels (grades 4-6), and one for the lower (grades K-3). • Recent regulations have restricted participation to students in the Education Program.

14. Development of the Community Aides Internships • Built upon the success of the Teachers’ Aides elective • Original vision for the program:  return to our Dominican roots • Revitalizing reciprocal partnership

15. Challenges to Community • Peripheral & mountainous region: 790 km2: bounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean • Connemara West Plc centred on Parish of Ballinakill - villages of Letterfrack, Tully, Tullycross, Moyard, Kylemore (c 1,900 inhabitants) • Low population density and aging population • Economically disadvantaged • Post ‘Celtic Tiger’ • 160 active community, sporting and social orgs

16. Renvyle Thatched Cottages • Proof of the power of Community Engagement! • Cottages were one of the inaugural projects of Connemara West in 1971-1972. Focused on attracting tourism to the area. • The revenue from the cottages led to Connemara West’s ability to invest in the development of its various programs and organizations…. which now host our students as interns.

17. Connemara West, Plc. • Community owned and managed Development Company established in 1971 to further the economic, social, and cultural life of the people in the Parish of Ballinakill.

18. Conservation Letterfrack The Furniture College (partnership with GMIT) Foscadh Community Development Ltd Connemara Community Radio Crèche Connemara West Plc Renvyle Thatched Cottages Youthreach FORUM Connemara Ltd Teach Ceoil

19. Why are the internships important to our Irish partners? • Gives Irish community members chance for cultural interaction • Volunteers always in short supply • ‘Fresh pair of eyes’ always useful • Thinking about internships necessitates reflection on their activities

20. Why are the internships important to Aquinas? • Customization • Accrual of credits for various majors • Increased emphasis on career preparation • Updating cultural immersion • Commitment to Service and Community • Recruitment, Retention, Relationships

21. 2014 Participation • 19 students in 2014 Ireland Program; 84% participation in school or internship placement • 2 students in Teachers’ Aides placements • 14 students in Community Aides Internships

22. Video

23. 2014 Internship Highlights • Active Age Programme: Assisting with Friday Club meals and activities. Assist with preparation and delivery of Meals on Wheels. Accompany staff on visitation to homes. • Adolescent Support Program: Prepare After School Activity Clubs for juniors and seniors and develop team building activities • Community Creche: Prepare After School Activity Clubs for children ages 5 to 12

24. 2014 Internship Highlights GMIT Letterfrack: Development of the alumni database and newsletter and social media outreach to alumni. Planning of various special events and assisting the Green Campus Committee FORUM Connemara (2 placements): Shadow FORUM staff and assist with local community development programs, rural recreation programs, and employment services

25. Customized Internships Renvyle Health Centre: Open to pre-med students. Shadow Dr. Alex in his practice and assist with research projects. Connemara National Park: Assist with daily operations of park and contribute to ongoing scientific surveys of flora and fauna. Conduct research study on issue of interest to the National Park.

26. Future Expansion • Educational tourism • Community Engagement reaffirmed Aquinas’s commitment • Cottage renovations • Study center facilities and increased capacity

27. Future plans • Crossroads for exploring future models, collaborations and expansion • Faculty sabbatical research in course modules • Aquinas Program open to guest students

28. Questions? Joelle Baldwin: baldwjoe@aquinas.edu 616-632-2076 Dr. Jennifer Dawson: dawsojen@aquinas.edu 616-632-2828 Dr. Kathy Kremer: kathy.kremer@aquinas.edu 616-632-2078