Service Learning through aStudent-Run Consulting Program

Nilupa S. Gunaratna, Purdue University

Craig A. Johnson, BYU-Idaho

John R. Stevens, Utah State University

Overview

• Introduction

• Organizational structure

• Examples of clients and projects

• Benefits

• Challenges

• Factors of success

Introduction

• STATCOM (Statistics in the Community)– Student-run consulting service at Purdue University– Professional statistical consulting– Local government and nonprofits– No charge to clients– Voluntary student participation– A model for integrating service learning into

graduate student education at other universities

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Historical Summary

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2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Consultants Projects

Director

ProjectManager

ProjectManager

AssociateDirector

Advisor

TeamLeader

TeamLeader

TeamLeader

TeamLeader

TeamMembers

TeamMembers

TeamMembers

TeamMembers

Organizational Structure

Director

ProjectManager

ProjectManager

AssociateDirector

Advisor

TeamLeader

TeamLeader

TeamLeader

TeamLeader

TeamMembers

TeamMembers

TeamMembers

TeamMembers

Organizational Structure

Team Member Roles• Team leader• An additional

experienced member• 2-3 other people

Organizational Structure

• Structure designed to– Spread out responsibilities– Involve more students in leadership– Develop consultants’ skills– Encourage peer mentoring– Accommodate many simultaneous projects

• Minimize dependence on faculty– Build expertise within the body of students

Examples of Projects

• Sagamore Parkway Task Force

• West Lafayette City Strategic Plan

• Lafayette School Corporation

• West Lafayette Public Library

• P-12 Outreach

Other Examples (Confidentiality assured)

• Youth group home• Youth organizations• Performing artists• Retirement center• Family support

center• Campus groups at

Purdue University

• Survey design & analysis

• Improving survey response rates

• Personnel retention• Analysis of donor

characteristics• Graphical data

summaries

Sample Report

Typical Project Cycle

Identifying Clients

Client Feedback

Written Report

InitialMeeting

StatisticalAnalysis

Follow-upMeeting

Documentation

Benefits – for Students

• Skills– Leadership / Management / Teamwork– Written / oral communication (general public)

• Translating client’s problem into a statistical problem• Solving the statistical problem• Translating results into a format useful to the client

• Academic / Professional presentations– Biweekly meetings– Conferences / symposia– Public fora

Benefits – for Students

• Supplement to graduate education– Practical applications of coursework– Early involvement in graduate education– Maintain balance and perspective during

graduate education

• Good résumé builder

• Intangibles

Other Benefits

• Department / College / University– Increased interaction and visibility – Engagement / Service– Good public relations & networking tool

• Community– Obvious benefit: free consulting– More statistically sound methods– Enhanced partnership with the university

Challenges

• Developing organizational structure

• Convincing faculty the benefits are worth the time

• Finding first few projects

• Projects that “fizzle”

• Continuity from semester-to-semester

• Documentation

Factors of Success

• Support from Department and Head

• Support from individual faculty/advisors

• Advising support

• Student autonomy

• Financial support– Brochures and business cards– Photocopies, meeting refreshments, etc.

Factors of Success

• Computer support– Laptops – Shared directory– Website – Email aliases

• Faculty recognition

• Enthusiasm fromgraduate students (natural)– Over 1/3 of students involved

Conclusions

• Many benefits– Enriches graduate student experience– Highlights department and university– Service to community

• STATCOM can be used as a model for other community consulting services

Acknowledgments

• Regina Becker, Purdue University

• Teena Seele, Purdue University

• Nels Grevstad, Metropolitan State College of Denver

• Mary Ellen Bock,Purdue University

• George McCabe,Purdue University

• Doug & Cheryl Crabill,Purdue University

• Many student officers and consultants at Purdue University

statcom@stat.purdue.edu http://www.stat.purdue.edu/statcom/