The MSU Graduate Certification in Community Engagement
Burton A. BargerstockCo-Director, National Collaborative for the Study of University EngagementDirector, UOE Communication and Information TechnologyE-mail: [email protected]
MSU Graduate Associate and Assistant Deans (GAAD)East Lansing, MichiganFebruary 15, 2011
What is Outreach and Engagement?
“Outreach [and engagement] is a form of scholarshipthat cuts across teaching, research, and service. It involves generating, transmitting, applying, and preserving knowledge for the direct benefit of external audiences in ways that are consistent with university and unit missions.”
~Provost's Committee on University Outreach (1993)University Outreach at Michigan State University: Extending Knowledge to Serve Society
Provost’s Committee on University Outreach. (1993, 2009). University outreach at Michigan State University: Extending knowledge to serve society. East Lansing: Michigan State University. Retrieved from http://outreach.msu.edu/documents.aspx
Engaged Research and Creative Activity
Engaged Teachingand Learning Engaged Service
• Community-based research
• Applied research
• Contractual research
• Demonstration projects
• Needs and assets assessments
• Program evaluations• Translation of scholarship through
presentations, publications, and web sites
• Exhibitions and performances
• Online and off-campus education• Continuing education• Occupational short course,
certificate, and licensure programs • Contract instructional programs • Participatory curriculum
development • Non-credit classes and programs • Conferences, seminars, and
workshops • Educational enrichment programs
for the public and alumni• Service-learning• Study abroad programs with
engagement components• Pre-college programs
• Technical assistance
• Consulting
• Policy analysis
• Expert testimony
• Knowledge transfer• Commercialization of discoveries• Creation of new business ventures• Clinical services
• Human and animal patient care
© 2009 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
What is Outreach and Engagement?
Who are MSU’s Engaged Scholars?
Origin– Convergence of several activities and intentions
• Undergraduate online modules: Tools of Engagement• Desire for systemic impact – undergrad, grad, faculty• MSU track record: Graduate Certification in College
Teaching• Conversations with Graduate School Dean
– Academic Governance – approval of framework– First offered during the 2009-2010 academic year
Purpose – Prepare next generation of engaged scholars by helping
graduate students develop systemic, thoughtful, and scholarly approaches to community engagement
What is the Graduate Certification in Community Engagement?
Annual application process (due early Fall)– Open to graduate and graduate professional students from all
departments and programs
Participants complete:– Core competencies through program seminars or approved
substitutions– Mentored community engagement experience– Reflective portfolio – Professional presentation
Program instructors review participants’ materials and the Associate Provost certifies achievement of competencies and program completion
Successful participants receive:– Certificate of completion from Associate Provost for UOE and Dean
of the Graduate School– Notation on academic transcript from the Registrar
Elements of the Program
Core Competencies/SeminarsProgram Seminars:
– Engaged scholarship and the scholarship of engagement– Co-building effective partnerships– Capacity-building for mutual benefit– Community-based participatory evaluation and research– Confirming agreement among community and university
partners (logic models)– Evaluating engaged partnerships– The ethics of engaged scholarship
Offered face-to-face over the academic year by an instructional team from UOE
To date, no one has sought approval for seminar substitutions
Examples of Mentored Community EngagementEngaged Research
– CBPR with local tourism providers in Belize– Mexican American Trailblazers oral history project at Austin
History Center (Texas)– Burcham Hills Integrative Dance project (East Lansing)– Smart Commute project (Petoskey)
Engaged Teaching– Writing through service-learning at the Allen Neighborhood
Center (Lansing)– Youth development through sports at the Refugee
Development Center (Lansing)– Rock Camp through MSU Community Music School (Lansing)
Engaged Service– Income tax clinics with Northwest Initiative (Lansing)
Who is Participating?Cohort One (2009-2010)
Cohort Two (2010-2011)
Active in 2010-2011(includes continuingcohort one students)
Total Enrollment 18 21 30Gender
Male 8 3 8Female 10 18 22
EthnicityWhite 12 12 17Non-white 4 4 7International 2 5 6
Graduate levelMasters 8 12 15Ph.D. 9 7 12Not applicable (MSU staff) 1 2 3
CollegesAgriculture and Natural Resources 5 5 8Arts and Letters 3 3 3Communication Arts and Sciences 2 2Education 3 3 5Natural Science 1 1Nursing 1 1Social Science 6 4 7
Presented Portfolios 8
Expectations and RealitiesWho and What We Expected Who Participated and How
Mostly Ph.D. students Mix of doctoral, masters, others
All degree-seeking students wishing to earn transcript credential
Some university staff interested in sitting in for a certificate of completion
Interest in engaged research Interests in engaged research, teaching, and service
Career plans in the academy Practitioner and academic career plans
Little background experience workingin/with communities
Substantial previous and/or on-going experience working in/with communities
Start community experience as part of Graduate Certification
Already part of an on-going community experience
Need assistance in finding mentored community engagement experience
Have own community contacts or contacts through advisor
Small number due to newness of program 39 participants in first two years
Advance through program as cohort Start as cohort, finish at different times
Learning From and Improving the ProgramStrengthened recruiting across campus
– More publicity at graduate student events and through networks
Improved seminars– Reduced duplication, increased cohesiveness across seminars– Added two new seminars – Evaluation and Ethics– Required seminar assignments to be in portfolios– Increased interactivity during seminar sessions
Clarified expectations– Mentored community engagement experience– Reflective portfolios and professional presentations
Provided greater student support– Program instructors meeting one-on-one with participants
Created network for participants to stay better connected – Established LinkedIn group, may offer social events
To learn more, please visit http://outreach.msu.edu/gradcert or contact:
Diane DoberneckResearch Specialist, National Collaborative for the Study of University EngagementE-mail: [email protected]
Robert BrownAssociate Director, University-Community PartnershipsE-mail: [email protected]
University Outreach and EngagementMichigan State UniversityKellogg Center, Garden LevelEast Lansing, MI 48824-1022Phone: (517) 353-8977Fax: (517) 432-9541E-mail: [email protected]: outreach.msu.edu
© 2011 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
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