Dr. Kathy Nordyke has been busy lately. Not to say that supporting service-learning across all of Missouri State's campus isn't already enough. But in less than a year's time, the Citizenship & Service-Learning director has also added oversight of the Fuse program, operating the eJournal of Public Affairs (EJOPA), and co-leading the multi-year long, university-wide Carnegie Re-Classification for Community Engagement to her list of responsibilities. We have an opportunity to help create stronger connections between student work or research and addressing real issues in the community On the surface, it's easy to say that this all serves to underscore her commitment to serving the university's public affairs mission. That's certainly part of the equation, but the rest reveals a more complex strategy: a future that envisions more holistic and highly connective forms of service-learning. When asked, Dr. Nordyke defines it as a civic engagement mindset: "With attributes of civic engagement at the front of the thought process, we have an opportunity to help create stronger … [Read more...] about Civic engagement through strategic programming
The eJournal of Public Affairs (EJOPA), a scholarly publication tied closely to Missouri State's official mission, is currently undergoing a transfer to its new home within Citizenship & Service-Learning. CASL's director, Dr. Kathy Nordyke, and yours truly, Charles Whitaker, were previously involved in contributing and editing roles, respectively. We're thrilled to be spearheading the re-launch. The re-launch will also include a partnership with AASCU's American Democracy Project, led by director, Cathy Copeland. Plans are in place to begin the development of a brand-new themed issue, editorials, and multimedia content. Other extremely excellent people who were formerly EJOPA leaders are helping us out as well, like Dr. Rachelle Darabi, and former editor-in-chief, Andrew Lokie. We're very thankful to for their guidance amidst retirement. Stay tuned for more stories and spotlights as our momentum picks up. Keep a lookout in this space for updates on the transfer progress, as well as information on how to be involved, new issue themes, call for submissions, events, and … [Read more...] about The eJournal of Public Affairs is being re-launched by CASL staff
We live in a constantly changing society that demands us to be open-minded and adaptable. Seeing things through a new lens or perspective is vital in today's world. We believe service-learning can help improve these essential abilities. Through experiential learning - we develop both skill and empathy through hands-on practices in the community. But that second part is not quite complete without also being able to recognize our personal biases. That's why we believe the Fuse program is an excellent addition to service-learning's programming. Service-learning offers an opportunity for individuals to step out of their comfort zones and gain a new perspective on the world around them. It can help shift narratives by introducing new ideas and experiences that challenge our preconceptions and biases. And now, service-learning feels more complete with the inclusion of Fuse principles and activities. The Fuse program offers new media methods for making these activities easier and more accessible, from card games to podcasts, there's a lot to explore -- take a … [Read more...] about The Fuse program gets a refresh with service-learning