Illinois State UniversityIllinois State University

Teaching and Learning SymposiumTeaching and Learning SymposiumJanuary 10, 2007January 10, 2007

2006-2007 Initiatives in the 2006-2007 Initiatives in the

Division of Academic AffairsDivision of Academic AffairsThe FOCUS Project is complementing The FOCUS Project is complementing

other campus wide Initiatives at ISU: other campus wide Initiatives at ISU: American Democracy ProjectAmerican Democracy ProjectFirst Year ExperienceFirst Year ExperienceThe Political Engagement ProjectThe Political Engagement ProjectGeneral EducationGeneral EducationPartnership for Student-LearningPartnership for Student-Learning

The American Democracy The American Democracy ProjectProject

Began in March 2003Began in March 2003 Joint effort between the Divisions of Joint effort between the Divisions of

Student Affairs and Academic AffairsStudent Affairs and Academic AffairsSpecial ADP projectsSpecial ADP projects

Political Engagement ProjectPolitical Engagement Project Jury InitiativeJury InitiativeVoter Registration ProjectVoter Registration ProjectEstablishment of a Service Learning Establishment of a Service Learning

OfficeOffice

Civic Engagement Movement Civic Engagement Movement in Higher Educationin Higher Education

Concerns about our DemocracyConcerns about our DemocracyDecline in social capitalDecline in social capitalLack of civic understandingLack of civic understandingDecline in civic education in K-12Decline in civic education in K-12Decline in political participation –Decline in political participation –

especially among the youngest adultsespecially among the youngest adults

Civic Engagement Movement Civic Engagement Movement in Higher Educationin Higher Education

Concerns about our InstitutionsConcerns about our InstitutionsDecreasing focus on liberal educationDecreasing focus on liberal educationDeclines in public fundingDeclines in public fundingGrowth of for-profit universitiesGrowth of for-profit universities Increase in merit, not needs-based Increase in merit, not needs-based

scholarshipsscholarships Increasing expectations of Increasing expectations of

accountabilityaccountability

What is PUBLIC about What is PUBLIC about public higher education?public higher education?

AASCU believes that the solution is not to become AASCU believes that the solution is not to become more private but to become more explicitly public. more private but to become more explicitly public.

Public colleges and universities have 3 obligations:Public colleges and universities have 3 obligations:

To StudentsTo StudentsWhat are our obligations to ensure that students have What are our obligations to ensure that students have

access to high quality programs, adequate support, and access to high quality programs, adequate support, and substantive outcomes?substantive outcomes?

To PlaceTo PlaceWhat is the role of higher education in the development of What is the role of higher education in the development of

its community and region?its community and region? To CountryTo Country

What is the role of higher education in the development of What is the role of higher education in the development of citizens?citizens?

3-year funded project through 3-year funded project through Academic AffairsAcademic Affairs

Purpose: to enhance Purpose: to enhance faculty faculty responsiveness to the value of responsiveness to the value of civic and community engagementcivic and community engagement so that they will incorporate civic and so that they will incorporate civic and community engagement community engagement opportunities for students into their opportunities for students into their classes and the curriculumclasses and the curriculum

Accomplishments during the 1Accomplishments during the 1stst year: year: Marketing for awareness of the FOCUS Marketing for awareness of the FOCUS

Initiative with breakfasts, luncheons, Initiative with breakfasts, luncheons, posters and flyers on the ISU campusposters and flyers on the ISU campus

Creation of 3 summer fellowships for ISU Creation of 3 summer fellowships for ISU faculty to develop instructional web-faculty to develop instructional web-based modules for facultybased modules for faculty

Support the training of LinC InstructorsSupport the training of LinC InstructorsVarious travels supportsVarious travels supports

22ndnd Year – In progress Year – In progressGrants and Awards for Faculty & Grants and Awards for Faculty &

Departments/SchoolsDepartments/Schools10 – Mini-Grants @ $500 each10 – Mini-Grants @ $500 each2 – Initiative Grants @ $1500 each2 – Initiative Grants @ $1500 eachFaculty Award - $1000Faculty Award - $1000Department Award $2500Department Award $2500Support for LinC instructorsSupport for LinC instructorsFOCUS ModulesFOCUS Modules

The FOCUS ModulesThe FOCUS ModulesDr. Gary Bachman, Ms. Jodi Hallsten, Dr. Phyllis McCluskey-Dr. Gary Bachman, Ms. Jodi Hallsten, Dr. Phyllis McCluskey-

TitusTitus

Web-based instructional system for Web-based instructional system for faculty at Illinois State Universityfaculty at Illinois State University

Created by ISU Faculty for ISU Created by ISU Faculty for ISU Faculty to answer foundational Faculty to answer foundational questions about civic and questions about civic and community engagementcommunity engagement

The FOCUS ModulesThe FOCUS Modules

The first three modules include:The first three modules include:1.1. What are Civic and Community What are Civic and Community

Engagement ?Engagement ?

2.2. Why Incorporate Civic and Community Why Incorporate Civic and Community Engagement? Engagement?

3.3. Innovative Pedagogy for Incorporating Civic Innovative Pedagogy for Incorporating Civic and Community Engagement and Community Engagement

www.focus.ilstu.eduwww.focus.ilstu.edu/modules/modules