Why Community-Engaged Learning at ETSU? Why Now?
By Dr. Susan McCracken, Vice Provost for Community Engagement
As you may have heard, ETSU has selected Community-Engaged Learning as our topic for the SACSCOC Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). This topic evolved from priorities identified in the 2016-2026 Strategic Plan, the 125 Plan Chapter II, and the Community Engagement Task Force Final Report. I was attracted to ETSU because it seemed that community engagement was a core value of the campus. Now, after 3 months on campus, I know this to be the case.
The QEP will take community engagement to the next level by strengthening the student learning environment. Through the intentional integration of curricular and co-curricular offerings with community needs identified through relationships with community entities we will establish a sustainable culture of Community-Engaged Learning.
The QEP student learning outcomes (SLOs) are as follows:
1. Students will make meaningful connections between their community-engaged learning experiences and academic course content.
2. Students will critically reflect on how community-engaged learning influences their future aspirations.
3. Students will articulate how community-engaged learning prepares them to make productive contributions in a diverse society.
The QEP is due to SACSCOC in February 2023, and we will have an on-site review April 3-6, 2023. To kick off our Community-Engaged Learning initiative, we are hosting Dr. Barbara Jacoby on campus October 13-14, Dr. Jacoby is a long-time expert who launched community service-learning at the University of Maryland in 1992. We welcome her expertise as we get started, as well as that of the upcoming Faculty Fellow we will hire to continue our faculty development opportunities over the next several semesters here at ETSU.
I want to thank you for the very warm welcome I have received since joining the campus family. My decision to join ETSU is affirmed each day and I am very proud to be part of this community.