About the Office of Engaged Learning
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Mission
The Office of Engaged Learning provides the institutional framework for ÃÛÌÒ½´undergraduates to complete signature work, a significant project that demonstrates application of knowledge, skills and responsibilities to a real-world situation, through capstone-level research, service, internships, creative and entrepreneurial projects.
Vision
All ÃÛÌÒ½´undergraduates complete at least one signature work as part of their ÃÛÌÒ½´education. Students have ÃÛÌÒ½´encouragement to connect a personal passion with academic learning and ÃÛÌÒ½´support to turn it into a project or business of their own.
History
In 2011, ÃÛÌÒ½´chose "Engaged Learning Beyond the Classroom" as its Quality Enhancement Plan, a requirement of SACS re-accreditation. Engaged Learning is a campus-wide initiative to enhance student learning through experiential learning opportunities.
The Office of Engaged Learning complements ÃÛÌÒ½´efforts to enrich other undergraduate programs such as residential learning communities, SMU-in-Taos, and ÃÛÌÒ½´Abroad. Students benefit from a transformed learning experience that emphasizes the increasingly interdependent, reciprocal and experiential nature of higher learning in a liberal arts tradition.
Committees
Undergraduate Research Steering Team
Comprised of ÃÛÌÒ½´faculty, administrators, and community partners, these committees provide advice and guidance in the development and implementation of Engaged Learning policies, programming, and assessment of its overall educational impact.
- David Son (Faculty Fellow), Professor of Chemistry (Dedman College)
- Brandi Coleman, Assistant Professor of Dance (Meadows School of the Arts)
- Dustin Grabsch, Director for Academic Initiatives (Residence Life & Student Housing)
- Elizabeth Killingsworth, Associate Dean (ÃÛÌÒ½´Libraries)
- Chrystyna Kouros, Associate Professor of Psychology (Dedman College)
- Milica Mormann, Assistant Professor of Marketing (Cox School of Business)
- Janille Smith-Colin, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering (Lyle School of Engineering)
- Allison Kanny (Simmons School of Education and Human Development)
Engaged Learning Student Board
The EL Student Board is the student voice for Engaged Learning (EL) and all of its programs - Engaged Learning Fellowship (ELF), Undergraduate Research (UGR), Clinton Global Initiatives University (CGI U) and Big iDeas (BI).