Service Learning through a
Student-Run Consulting Program
Nilupa S. Gunaratna, Purdue University
Craig A. Johnson, BYU-Idaho
John R. Stevens, Utah State University
Overview
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Introduction
Organizational structure
Examples of clients and projects
Benefits
Challenges
Factors of success
Introduction
• STATCOM (Statistics in the Community)
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Student-run consulting service at Purdue University
Professional statistical consulting
Local government and nonprofits
No charge to clients
Voluntary student participation
A model for integrating service learning into
graduate student education at other universities
Historical Summary
40
Consultants
Projects
30
20
10
0
|
2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
|
2005
Organizational Structure
Director
Associate
Director
Advisor
Project
Manager
Project
Manager
Team
Leader
Team
Leader
Team
Leader
Team
Leader
Team
Members
Team
Members
Team
Members
Team
Members
Organizational Structure
Director Roles
Team Member
• Team leader
Associate
•Director
An additional Advisor
experienced member
Project
Project
• 2-3 other people
Manager
Manager
Team
Leader
Team
Leader
Team
Leader
Team
Leader
Team
Members
Team
Members
Team
Members
Team
Members
Organizational Structure
• Structure designed to
– Spread out responsibilities
– Involve more students in leadership
– Develop consultants’ skills
– Encourage peer mentoring
– Accommodate many simultaneous projects
• Minimize dependence on faculty
– Build expertise within the body of students
Examples of Projects
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Sagamore Parkway Task Force
West Lafayette City Strategic Plan
Lafayette School Corporation
West Lafayette Public Library
P-12 Outreach
Other Examples
(Confidentiality assured)
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Youth group home
Youth organizations
Performing artists
Retirement center
Family support
center
• Campus groups at
Purdue University
• Survey design &
analysis
• Improving survey
response rates
• Personnel retention
• Analysis of donor
characteristics
• Graphical data
summaries
Sample Report
Typical Project Cycle
Client
Feedback
Identifying
Clients
Follow-up
Initial
Documentation
Meeting
Meeting
Written
Report
Statistical
Analysis
Benefits – for Students
• Skills
– Leadership / Management / Teamwork
– Written / oral communication (general public)
• Translating client’s problem into a statistical problem
• Solving the statistical problem
• Translating results into a format useful to the client
• Academic / Professional presentations
– Biweekly meetings
– Conferences / symposia
– Public fora
Benefits – for Students
• Supplement to graduate education
– Practical applications of coursework
– Early involvement in graduate education
– Maintain balance and perspective during
graduate education
• Good résumé builder
• Intangibles
Other Benefits
• Department / College / University
– Increased interaction and visibility
– Engagement / Service
– Good public relations & networking tool
• Community
– Obvious benefit: free consulting
– More statistically sound methods
– Enhanced partnership with the university
Challenges
• Developing organizational structure
• Convincing faculty the benefits are
worth the time
• Finding first few projects
• Projects that “fizzle”
• Continuity from semester-to-semester
• Documentation
Factors of Success
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Support from Department and Head
Support from individual faculty/advisors
Advising support
Student autonomy
Financial support
– Brochures and business cards
– Photocopies, meeting refreshments, etc.
Factors of Success
• Computer support
– Laptops
– Website
– Shared directory
– Email aliases
• Faculty recognition
• Enthusiasm from
graduate students (natural)
– Over 1/3 of students involved
Conclusions
• Many benefits
– Enriches graduate student experience
– Highlights department and university
– Service to community
• STATCOM can be used as a model for
other community consulting services
Acknowledgments
• Regina Becker,
Purdue University
• Teena Seele,
Purdue University
• Nels Grevstad,
Metropolitan State
College of Denver
• Mary Ellen Bock,
Purdue University
• George McCabe,
Purdue University
• Doug & Cheryl Crabill,
Purdue University
• Many student officers
and consultants at
Purdue University
statcom@stat.purdue.edu
http://www.stat.purdue.edu/statcom/