ENGAGING LEADERSHIPoffice of experiential education and civic engagement

contentsDirector’s Comments..........1

experiential learning opportunities.........................2

alternative spring break 2013..............................................3

ksu engagement.....................4

ksu engagement cont’d.....5

career & community Studies student experience................................6

upcoming events..................7

SPRING 2013, ISSUE 1

Director’s Comments:

Welcome to the Spring, 2013 Engaging Leadership Newsletter!

Things are literally moving and shaking for the Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement (OEECE)! As of January 2, 2013, the OEECE is housed within the Division of Undergraduate Studies (US) under the leadership of Interim Dean Eboni Pringle. The OEECE staff is super excited about our new home and embrace the move with the idea that it will serve as a model for advancing student academic success. Dean Pringle expressed enthusiasm and optimism during the January 31, 2013 welcome of the OEECE and other new US staff members, and referred to the new merger as “a natural fit.”

Essentially, the integration of OEECE in US has broadened the family of professionals which includes the, Academic Success and Exploratory Advising Centers, EXCEL, Trio, Dual Enrollment and Student Success Programs. As a result, the collaborative opportunities to develop, creative, fun, and innovative approaches to student learning are plentiful, to say the least.

The restructuring of US links directly with the strategic interests of Academic Affairs. The practice of experiential education could spark greater momentum for academic and career decision –making of all undergraduate students. Between 2012-2015 academic years, you will observe how linking the OEECE with US will:

1. Ensure student success by facilitating engaged learning activities that help develop disciplinary and transferable competencies required for academic and professional advancement.2. Engage with the world beyond our campuses by preparing students for life-long, authentic learning activities that lead to quality practical, internship, and career opportunities.3. Enhance academic excellence and innovation by

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Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement (OEECE) www.kent.edu/experiential / 207 Moulton Hall / 330-672-7876

Dr. Tina L. Kandakai

promoting engagement with national organizations that advance faculty knowledge of experiential education, encourage conference presentations and publication of works related to experiential learning.4. Develop and recognize our people by identifying and pursing institutional, state, and national outlets that recognize departments, faculty members, and students whose work meet university goals through teaching, learning, and research.

As we move into the Spring 2013 semester, you are encouraged to get involved, promote engagement, and showcase your successes in experiential learning. Faculty members are asked to submit proposals for conferences that focus on experiential learning such as the National Society of Experiential Education and the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Annual Conference. Campus-based events such as the Faculty Professional Development Center sponsored Spring Learning Institute, will be held on February 22, 2013, and the 2nd Annual Showcase of Excellence in Action is a platform for faculty members and students to display examples of the power of experiential learning.

Consider submitting your course or program activity for recognition. Details regarding the Showcase of Excellence in Action are forthcoming. The Spring semester is also ripe with activities for students including the Career Services Spring Job & Internship Fair scheduled for February 27, 2013, Alternatives Spring Breaks which include visits at 7 different site locations, the Plus-1 Credit course option for students looking to meet the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) or who simply want to add more relevance to their coursework (application deadline extended to February 11, 2013), and experiential learning workshops. There is plenty to see and do so please join us!

As always, the OEECE is proud of the impact that it is making on the lives of our students, faculty members, and community. If you have ideas that you would like to share or are looking to modify existing experiential learning approaches, feel free to stop by 207 Moulton Hall, visit us at www.kent.edu/experiential, email experiential@kent.edu, or call our office at 330-672-7876.

Have a Wonderful Semester, Tina L. Kandakai, PhDDirector OEECE

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spring 2013 plus-1 Credit application deadline extended

Looking to add more spice to your class this semester!? Add a community-based experience to your course with the Plus-1 Credit option! The Plus-1 Credit is an add-on that attaches an engaged experiential learning activity that will bring life to your course experience.

Plus-1 Credit activities link seamlessly with the learning objectives of a primary course and/or disciplinary competencies. As a result, you gain a better appreciation and understanding of the

academic content. Any student who successfully completes the Plus-1 Credit course will have fulfilled their Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR).

The deadline to submit applications to the OEECE has been extended to Thursday, February 11, 2013. Direct all questions and comments to Tina L. Kandakai, PhD at tkandaka@kent.edu or call 330-672-7876.

experiential learning Opportunities

PLUS-1 CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

Below are three Plus-1 Credit opportunities for the Spring 2013. For more opportunities please contact Dr. Tina Kandakai at tkandaka@kent.edu or call 330-672-7876.

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Since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Kent State University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program has offered students opportunities to provide service in communities outside of their own by sending groups on week-long volunteer trips during their spring break.

Our trips this year will revolve around issues such as environmental/conservation justice, poverty, hunger, homelessness, education inequity, health care, cultural diversity - specifically Native American, urban, and Appalachian communities.

Kent State’s Alternative Spring Break Trips expose students to social justice and cultural issues through direct service, community visits, reflection and a variety of activities. Alternative Spring Breaks also gives a lot back to KSU students. One KSU student who attended ABS last year shared, “This trip pushed for my values to come into play a lot. They were questioned and reinforced”. The student shared that this helped them determine what was important in their life.

The main goal of the trips is to engage students in service as well as to inform them about current social issues and encourage their on-going involvement in social change.

Another KSU 2012 ASB student shares, “I learned from meeting

alternative spring break 2013

with different organizations, which allowed me to see careers where I can make an impact on the community”. If students are interested in increasing awareness around social issues, and inspiring themselves and others to learn and serve in and beyond their own communities this is a great opportunity.

Registration for ASB 2013 closes Wednesday, February 15th, 2013. To learn more about the ASB trips click here or contact Ann Gosky at agosky@kent.edu.

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What does it mean to be a leader on-campus or in the community? During last semester, twenty-three Kent State University Student Service Leaders were committed in leading over 600 KSU students in 3,394 hours of community service.

Student Service Leaders raise awareness of issues and create meaningful relationships between our campus and community.

Student Service Leader, Breanna Fitzpatrick shares, “My best memory as an SS Leader is when I was volunteering at Loaves and Fishes and a family thanked me for sitting and talking with them.” Fitzpatrick shares, “It was heartwarming to see a family who was so thankful to have a conversation with me.”

**Continued on Page 6

experiential learning readiness: A seminar on

getting connected

ksu engagement

On April 18, 2013, the OEECE in collaboration with the Academic Success Center and the College of Business’s Business Experience Program will host an Experiential Learning Readiness Workshop focusing on giving Kent State’s student population an opportunity to discover how Experiential Learning can connect them with the Kent community, the University and their peers by providing them with opportunities to engage together to address social and community issues.

Join us and take part in presentations on Experiential Learning and workforce readiness from local community businesses as well as participate in “speed-dating” one-on-ones with these innovative business owners. Come meet and network with these great people and set yourself up for future Experiential Learning opportunities!

student service leaders

Turning Fall Commitments to Spring Accomplishmentsshowcase of excellence in action

During the Fall 2012 semester several faculty members and students made a commitment to donate their talents to support the work of local non-profit community agencies.

The commitments included program evaluations, conducting an infrastructure needs assessment, website redesign, a backpack - supplemental food program, and an interior design makeover! The representatives from these community agencies received

certificates of commitment at our Third Annual Oxfam Social Issues Banquet. During Honors week, the OEECE will recognize those involved in turning those commitments to Spring 2013 accomplishments.

Help us recognize Kent State and community champions who have allowed experiential learning activities to:

1) serve as an extension of class-based learning, 2) facilitate student development and application of knowledge and skill, and 3) promote public good through community engagement.

Contact the OEECE at 330-672-7876 for more details.

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ksu engagement continuedbuilding experiential learning & partnerships

workshopIn collaboration with Ohio Campus Compact, the OEECE will hold an interactive workshop titled Building Experiential Learning and Partnerships. Faculty will get a chance to interact with campus and community partners who share complimentary interests and needs for student engagement. During this workshop, participants will work together to develop opportunities that promote student connectedness, engagement, and learning, hence the theme “Piecing Together Engaged Learning!” Participants can expect to:

1. Develop a platform for exploring curricular-based experiential learning options.2. Interact with a variety of partners who support student application of knowledge and skills.3. Receive useful information and tools for creating meaningful and productive partnerships.4. Develop an action plan, facilitating the

implementation of course-based experiential learning.5. Hear from a representative of Ohio Campus Compact on the importance of engaging students with the community.

The Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, 2013 (time and location TBA)!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrated: Just 4 A DayOn Monday, January 21st, 130 plus volunteers served at 11 community partners on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The event was sponsored by the University’s MLK Day committee, Hillel, Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the morning to engage in a discussion of the meaning of MLK “Just 4 A Day Annual Day of Service” prior to serving. Volunteers were encouraged to reflect upon the social justice issues that are connected with

The 130 volunteers who served on MLK Day.

where they were serving as well living out MLK’s vision and idea of living out service beyond just for the day!

The group reconvened to have a discussion about their day. During the conversation led by Rabbi Lee the group was asked to think about

the difference between “doing service” and being service minded. One volunteer said, “No matter the difference between us, we can all work together.”

The MLK day was positively received by participants. Volunteers expressed their improved awareness of social justice issues and how community agencies are addressing specific social issues.

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Deanna Baldwin is a Kent State student in the Career and Community Studies (CCS) program with an interest in writing and journalism. Deanna has been invited to share her story and the stories of other CCS students in our Engaging Leadership Newsletter. Below is her story…

The students at Career and Community and Studies (CCS) have been taking classes to become more independent. As they grow they will gain more experience about if the students are ready to live on their own when they graduate from Kent State.

Some of my classmates are taking Martial Arts, sports, etc. This program helped them to gain and to make new friends or old friends from way back like at another location but it will help them to learn and have a good friendship going between them.Last year all of the students got to live in the dorms as a experience and they really

enjoyed it they had a good choice of roommates that the students wanted from what my friends learn was it was fun and they hope that someday my friends wants to do it again for this year was a good

CAREER & COMMUNITY STUDIES student experience

Deanna Baldwin (center) working in the OEECE

with the two gradate assistants, Colette Armes

(left) and Coleen Fitzgibbons (right).

Dr. Tina Kandakai (left() and Deanna Baldwin

(right) visiting the the Inclusive Action Movement-

table.

experience for them to learn.It takes time to make new friends sometimes you can do it right away but the way that CCS Students made friends was taking it slow and not rushing it and that helped them to be more aware of each student even if they do have different disabilities but they learn to help each other out when they can if him or her

needs it. Students with disabilities can learn at their own pace but some choose to help from an advisor or another peer that they know really well, but the main important thing is to never lose any trust when you made friends with them not all students are the same which is a good thing it can help you to learn more about them. Even students that have a disability can come to college and get a degree in majors that they have chosen for their own careers and can still live up to that career.

student service leaders cont’d from pg. 4Student Service leaders make a huge impact on our campus and in our community. They work to foster citizenship through enthusiasm and proactive approach to service and leadership.

We would like to recognize and say thank you to Fall 2012 Student Service Leaders. Fall 2012 Student Service Leaders:•B Audu*•Amanda Bevington•Adriana Bodnaruk•Janine Butler•Paige DeMattie*

•Breanna Fitzpatrick*•Katie Hardy*•Truc Ho*•Alex Kokinov•Austin Kwesnik•Amber Levesque•Robbie Lierenz•Caitlin McGrew•Jessica Miller*•Taylor Pence*•Tina Reese*•Sarah Scarazzo*•Trevor Setterlin•Rachael Smith*•Shaun Thomas•Abbey Woolverton*•Crystal Zhang

(* Returning Student Service Leaders)These amazing Student Service Leaders help coordinated and lead over sixteen service trips in the Fall Semester which includes Super Service Saturdays and our Immersion Trips. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved visit our website.If you are interested in learning more or becoming a Student Service Leader contact Nichelle Shuck at nshuck@kent.edu or Elizabeth Bosworth at eboswort@kent.edu .

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

Spring Learning Institute 201322

23 - 30 Alternative Spring Break Trips

7 - 13 Showcase of Excellence in Action, time & location TBA

15May Building Experienial Learning & Partnerships Workshop, time & location TBA

Experiential Learning Readiness Seminar, 12 - 2 p.m., Moulton Hall Ballroom

27 Spring Job & Internship Fair

MONTH DATE EVENT, TIME, & LOCATION (click on the events for registration/more info)

9 & 18 Super Service Saturdays

2, 9, 16

21 The Engaged Campus: Strategies to Connect Student & Academic Affairs, 1:30 - 5 PM, Moulton Hal Ballroom, Contact Ann Gosky for more information at agosky@kent.edu

6, 13, 27

Earth Day - Day of Service20

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The Bridge, 5 - 7 p.m.*1, 8, 15, 22

1, 8, 15, 22, 29

The Bridge, 5 - 7 p.m.*

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5, 12, 19, 26

The Bridge, 5 - 7 p.m.*

*The Bridge is an outreach to the homeless in Akron, Ohio. Every Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Students are asked to meet at Beall Hall loading dock. A PB and J sandwich and meal preparation for The Bridge will be held every Thursday 5 – 7 p.m., Beall Hall 2nd floor.

Service Day with Upward Bound and Student Service Leaders Retreat, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Moulton Hall

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6 KSU Flash-A-Thon (Dance Marathon), Recreation and Wellness Center. To benefit Akron Children’s Hospital hematology and oncology deptartments.

Super Service Saturdays

Super Service Saturdays

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