Brian Calfano, associate professor of political science at Missouri State University, was recently awarded a $500 mini-grant from Missouri Campus Compact. The grant proposal titled “Missouri State University Tele-Town Hall Project is designed to facilitate a large scale “Get Out the Vote” project that serves the civic good in southwest Missouri. This project brings the best of public scholarship, service-learning, and civic engagement to bear in performing a critical civic function during the 2012 presidential election season.
Brian partnered with the MSU Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning to provide students with cutting-edge, real-time, real-world training opportunities through service-learning in two courses: PLS 497, Media and Political Marketing (summer component SL), and PLS 317 American Political Behavior (fall integrated SL). According to Katherine Nordyke, Director for Citizenship and Service-Learning, “this collaborative project demonstrates the true pedagogy of service-learning – students take their skills and knowledge learned in the classroom environment and engage in real-world experiences that address social justice issues and provide critical thinking opportunities for students to do community-based problem solving. We are looking forward to being a part of this great service-learning program.” Students in both courses will be involved in and gain first-hand experience in the design and execution of all aspects of the Tele-Town Hall project and the media stimuli in particular.
To the best of our knowledge, there is no other US college or university preparing such a unique and educationally novel opportunity for its students; the project solidifies MSU’s place as Missouri’s Public Affairs University and a peerless civic education resource in the Ozarks.
For more information about this Tele Town Hall Service-Learning and Research project please contact: Dr. Brian Calfano, MSU Associate Professor of Political Science at 417-836-8574.