Transforming Students Into Leaders Through Civic Engagement: Expanding the Classroom Experience

Transforming Students Into Leaders Through Civic

Engagement: Expanding the Classroom

Experience

Maureen L. Mackenzie, Ph.D. PHRProfessor of Business

13th Biennial Colloquium of Dominican Colleges and Universities

Molloy CollegeJune 12-14, 2014

Kathleen Maurer Smith Ph.DDean, Division of Social Sciences

Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs

Madeline Gunn, Ph.D.Director, Office of Experiential Learning

The Expanded ClassroomThe Expanded ClassroomKathleen Maurer SmithKathleen Maurer Smith

The Expanded Classroom involves Experiential Learning which includes:

Internships Community-based research Service Learning in local communities

Service Learning Immersion trips

The Expanded ClassroomThe Expanded ClassroomKathleen Maurer SmithKathleen Maurer Smith

Experiential Learning prepares students to:

• Discover connections between ideas and real world problems

• Become socially aware, civically engaged citizens

• Develop transformational leadership skills

• Become motivated toward conscientious community action

Transformative EducationTransformative EducationMaureen L. MackenzieMaureen L. Mackenzie

Fall 2012 – Annual Theme – Civic EngagementCapstone: Management focused on Social

GoodBloomberg Foundation – Mayor’s ChallengeStudy, Spirituality, Service, Community

…Through transformative education, Molloy College promotes a lifelong search for truth and the development of ethical leadership.

Clients: Villages of Babylon, Port Jefferson, Mastic Beach, Freeport, NCCHR, LIRPC, Housing Authority, Sustainability Long Island

The Village of BabylonThe Village of BabylonPreservation of Historic PropertiesPreservation of Historic Properties

Ajana WilkinsonAjana Wilkinson

Transformative Education that leads to

Social Good: Self efficacy and self-discovery

Explore solutions that would simplify for residents the complexity of preservation codeEstablish a Landmark Preservation Commission The code be reformed to plain languageThe village apply for grants to be used solely for the purpose of historic preservation

The Village of BabylonThe Village of BabylonChamber of Commerce: Chamber of Commerce: Frequent Shopper CardFrequent Shopper Card

Joanna BellinzoniJoanna Bellinzoni

Capstone – Transformative Education leads to Social Good: Self efficacy and self-discovery

Experiential LearningMadeline Gunn

Expanding the classroom Expanding the classroom beyond the local community: beyond the local community: how & why.how & why.Synergy or convergence between the

partnering community and college needs

◦ New Orleans – Hurricane Katrina (2005) left the city with substantial needs and the BP oil spill (2010) left the Gulf Coast significantly damaged. (Nursing & Environmental Science majors)

◦ Bayamon, Puerto Rico – 45% unemployment, 80% of the children live in poverty, rich culture & history (Spanish and Spanish Education majors)

◦ Lower Brule Sioux Reservation, South Dakota. The historical consequences of the reservation system are still evident today. The unemployment rate is 51%, local schools scored below testing goals, rich culture and history. (Psychology, Sociology, History majors)

It is all about It is all about relationship…relationship…

We create the most meaningful experiences for our students through our relationships with our community partners

Our students learn about the people, the culture and the challenges they confront through relationship with that community

Educators convey theory / learning goals more effectively through relationship with students

New Orleans, Louisiana

Ms. Gurchurn MinhasNursing major

Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Ms. Joana SolarteNursing major

Lower Brule Sioux Reservation, South Dakota

Ms. Jasmine Rivera Psychology Major

Transforming Students Into Leaders Through Civic Engagement:

Expanding the Classroom Experience

Insights and Wrap-upInsights and Wrap-upKathleen Maurer SmithKathleen Maurer Smith

ACADEMIC LEARNING +

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT =

STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUCCESS

Students who participate in civic engagement

◦Learn and retain more academic content

◦Learn higher order skills◦Experience increased emotional intelligence and motivation

Insights and Wrap-upInsights and Wrap-upKathleen Maurer SmithKathleen Maurer Smith

Communities benefit by:◦Forming transformative partnership with local colleges and universities to assess community needs and develop solutions

◦Tapping into the multidiscipline expertise of students and faculty

◦Experiencing the community improvements that results from these collaborate efforts

Insights and Wrap-upInsights and Wrap-upKathleen Maurer SmithKathleen Maurer Smith

Transforming Students Into Leaders Through Civic Engagement:

Expanding the Classroom Experience

THANK YOU!