Learning Communities and Public Affairs: Launching
a New Program at Missouri State University
Mike Wood
Director, First-Year Programs
Agenda
 What is Missouri State’s Public Affairs
Mission?
 Developing Learning Communities: Why Now?
 Strategies for Faculty Recruitment &
Development
 Reactions from faculty and students
 Reflections: “Lessons Learned”
 Resources
 Wrap-up & questions
First-Year Programs
Missouri State University
Founded in 1905 as a teaching college
State’s second largest university- 22,938 students
Nearly 4000 faculty and staff members
90% of full time faculty have the most advanced
degree available in their field.
 150 undergraduate majors, 47 graduate programs
 Division I athletics
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First-Year Programs
Public Affairs Mission
 Statewide mission in Public Affairs signed
into law in 1995
 Three tenets of Public Affairs Mission
include:
Ethical Leadership
Community Engagement
Cultural Competence
First-Year Programs
Our Public Affairs Theme changes
each year—any guesses?
Current State of the Economy
First-Year Programs
First-Year Programs
Yearly Public Affairs Theme
 2006/07 One World: Many Voices
 2007/08 Seeking Solutions: Conflict,
Violence, and the Courage to Change
 2008/09 Sustainability
 2009/10 Evolving Economic Realities
 2010/11 Leadership in a Global Society
 2011/12 Culture of Connectivity
First-Year Programs
Ethical Leadership
Goal: Students will articulate their value systems, act ethically
within the context of a democratic society, and
demonstrate engaged and principled leadership.
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Helps students understand the ethical dimensions of leadership;
taking what they learn in the classrooms, and using that
knowledge to help solve problems and bring about change.
Example activities on campus:
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Leadership programs: (Emerging Leaders, Peer Leaders, SOAR Leaders etc. )
Federal Reserve Speaker: Dr. Subhayu Bandyopadhya Library Auditorium 3:30pm Wed.
Terrorism and Policy: An International Perspective
First-Year Programs
Constitution Day 2009
Associate Provost Rachelle Darabi, President Mike Nietzel, Megan Hammer,
Student PAW Chair, Christina Bowles, GA, & Provost Belinda McCarthy
First-Year Programs
Cultural Competence
Goal: Students will recognize and respect multiple
perspectives and cultures.
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Missouri State builds its students' cultural knowledge through
several avenues: Study Abroad, international students, and
even the ability to study different languages, history, and
religion courses throughout their academic career broadens
their horizon to help build relationships, and bring about better
competition for the future.
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Experience Africa! Visit Shengana, Africa PSU Ballroom East 10
am – 3 pm and 6:15 – 7 pm Mon, Sept. 21
First-Year Programs
Away
We
Go,Visit
sponsored
by Student
Experience
Africa!
Shengana, Africa
PSU Ballroom East
10
am – 3 pm and
6:15 – 7 pm
Mon, Sept. 21
Activities
Council
| Wednesday,
Sept. 16
@9 PM, PSU Theater.
First-Year Programs
Experience Africa! Visit Shengana, Africa PSU Ballroom East
10 am – 3 pm and 6:15 – 7 pm Mon, Sept. 21
First-Year Programs
Experience Africa Event
2009
First-Year Programs
Community Engagement
Goal: Students will recognize the importance of contributing their
knowledge and experiences to their own community and the broader
society.
Goal:
Students will recognize the importance of scientific principles
in the generation of sound public policy.
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This aspect takes their classroom knowledge beyond the books, tests, and
classrooms. It lets them branch out and see how the world is working through a
different lens—giving them the opportunity to work with their communities and
build up their ability to lead in their careers.
Example Activities:
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Habitat for Humanity
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Volunteer Fair
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Citizenship Fair
First-Year Programs
Student Success Programming
What we planned to do
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Pilot Learning-Community Program
Five identical cohorts of linked courses
 IDS 110 (First-Year Seminar)
 COM 115 (Public Speaking)
 ENG 110 (English Comp)
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Faculty were asked to include at least one integrated assignment,
and include at least one co-curricular experience.
First-Year Programs
What we actually did…
 Eight learning communities were created.
 Typically consisted of FYE seminar, English,
and Public Speaking courses.
 Another LC linking History and English
created.
 Another faculty member linked his first-year
seminar to a religion course.
First-Year Programs
First-Year Programs
What’s YOUR Theme?
 All Learning Communities were
encouraged to develop a “theme” and
brief description. For example:
 “My Place in this World”
 “Money makes the World Go Round”
 “Ancient History for the Post-Modern World: Tips
for Life from the Buddha, Chinggis Khaan and
others…”
 “Come to the Cultural Fair”
 And others…
First-Year Programs
Learning Community class at Cook’s Kettle
Restaurant
Cook’s Kettle is a
vocational training
program for the
homeless. Students
also wrote a reflective
essay about the
experience.
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Common Reader
A common reader was piloted in
fall 2009 in most of the
communities. A larger
implementation is scheduled for
fall 2010.
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Library Integration
 Each LC had an assigned librarian as a
member of their LC faculty team.
 A variety of resource web pages were
created—one for each LC. (handout)
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Activities across the Year
 Introduce Mission and Theme at SOAR
(orientation)
 Freshman Convocation
 GEP 101
 Common Reader
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Activities Continued
 Public Affairs Week (Student Led)
 Constitution Day
 African Experience
 Hunger Banquet
 Public Affairs Distinction (CoCurricular Transcript)
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GEP 101:First Year Foundations
(new first-year seminar course for fall 2010)
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2 credit hours-(full semester)
1 credit hour dedicated to Public Affairs
10 sections of GEP 101 with Integrated Service
Learning
16 sections in Curricular Learning Communities
8 sections: college or department specific
Pilot sections with undergraduate research
First-Year Programs
Common Reader,
2010
Three Cups of Tea was selected by a committee
of faculty, staff, and a student Peer Leader. The
book will be used in all first-year seminar courses
(approximately 100 sections, 2500 students).
A variety of activities, including a keynote
speaker by the author are planned for fall.
PA Theme for 2010: Leadership in a Global
Society
http://www.missouristate.edu/paw/default.asp
First-Year Programs
Assessment
 IRB approval obtained, fall 2009
 Survey was administered to students
in final two weeks of semester. (copy
included in your packet)
 Faculty survey
 Spring 2010: follow up focus groups
with students.
First-Year Programs
What faculty are already
saying…
 “I have nearly 100% attendance in my LC!”
 “Students are far more engaged, and seem
more comfortable with each other and the
instructor.”
 “I can’t wait to do this again!”
 “I have so many ideas I want to try next
year!”
First-Year Programs
What students are saying…
 “In my LC I felt like I was more connected
with the other students and my teacher”
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“Our class became much closer and helped each
other by forming study groups—it motivated me to
not only come to class, but to participate.”
First-Year Programs
LC survey results: positive
outcomes
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85.5% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I
communicated more easily with faculty in my LC than
with my prof in my non-LC classes”
92.03% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement
“The courses in my LC were well connected through a
common theme.”
86.96% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I
appreciated the opportunity to be in a learning
community.”
First-Year Programs
LC survey results: not as positive
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61.79% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “I
appreciated the co-curricular activities.”
67.65% agreed or strongly agreed with “I enrolled in an
LC because it’s a practical way to acquire new skills.”
52.94% agreed or strongly agreed with “I enrolled in an
LC because experiencing new things is a part of who I
am.”
Discuss “Hyper-bonding” issues
First-Year Programs
Promoting the Learning
Communities
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Promoting & marketing the
Learning communities
 Flyer included with summer orientation
packet.
 Orientation advisors and student leaders
educated about options during training.
 Student success initiatives promoted at each
SOAR (Summer Orientation, Advisement,
and Registration) session throughout the
summer.
First-Year Programs
Reflections…
 Important to start faculty recruitment early.
 Experienced LC faculty to help recruit new people
 Faculty/instructor development is essential.
 Coordinating communities takes time, so
don’t be afraid to ask for help!
 Provide opportunities for faculty/instructors
to interact, share ideas during the semester.
 Encourage creativity-have fun!
First-Year Programs
Reflections, continued…
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Have realistic expectations for what can be
accomplished during a pilot program.
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Have a good working relationship with your
Registrar—you will need their help!
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Educate Academic Advisors and other stakeholders
(department heads, deans, orientation leaders, etc.)
early in the process.
First-Year Programs
Questions?
Contact information:
Mike Wood: [email protected] (417)836-8343
First-Year Programs