Learning Experience Planning Committee
8-1-00 Minutes
The discussion revolved entirely around the Citizenship Experience component of the Putting Learning to
Work Focus-Group Report.
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Question raised about possibly "not" requiring the citizenship experience
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Some discussion about current course citizenship-like projects with 30-hour requirement and the
concern that these would not meet the 90-hour requirement listed in the focus-group report. Upon
further review, the 90-hour requirement includes preparation, the experience itself, analysis of the
work/project, and reflection about the piece. Discussion persists about the need to be that specifically
prescriptive about the requirement.
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Discussion about connecting the Citizenship Experience to a 3-credit minimum major program
requirement which prompted discussion and comments that this would blur the line even more so
between the professional practice component and the citizenship experience.
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Concern about not making citizenship experience tied directly to the major to allow for genuine
citizen-like experiences that do not necessarily relate to a specific field of study and quite possibly the
student may purposely be interested in projects outside the realm of their major field of study.
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There may be some value to offering both options and allowing for student-designed citizenship
experiences as well.
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One member indicated concern that neither the portfolio, citizenship experience nor the professional
practice experience should be required. This prompted concern that the plan might become too
watered down especially given the import to date placed on items like the Professional Practice
(discussed frequently with Regents/Governor’s Office) and Portfolio and the Campus concern about
developing students who will become engaged and active citizens.
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Discussion about returning student scenario wherein a mother serving on a school board chooses to
return to university study...will she be expected to complete a Citizenship Experience in addition to
her ongoing active and involved citizen activities? The Focus-Group committee seemed to indicate
that students might frequently register for Independent study or Internship credit (or for Citizenship
Experience credit if separate course number(s) are used/developed.
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It seems the most important comments of the day related to the "application of student learning" as a
central characteristic of these experiences whatever they may be. When broadly conceived this does
not have to be restricted to a student’s major program but some student may choose to relate their
citizenship experiences directly to their major or minor areas of study. The relationship of these
experiences to their university studies "must make sense to students" if they are to think seriously
about this type of requirement. Valuable current course examples of these type of activities in general
education courses or courses outside the major were further discussed.
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There was broad concern that these specific recommendations should be simplified conceptually
which would in turn broaden the options available to students.
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Need we be concerned about potential use of church-related activities used to fulfill this requirement?