Co-Curricular Connections

Team Name: Co-Curricular Connections

Team Lead: Jennifer Fountain

Team Members: Amy Belcastro, Jeffrey Gayton, Danielle Mancuso, Jody Waters

The Co-Curricular initiative has focused on trying to bring together the academic and student affairs sides of the house. Helping students understand the connections between what they do inside and outside the classroom, and how they complement and reinforce each other helps students understand the meaning behind what they’re doing. Some of this work will be supported by the Major Maps initiative, but the Curricular and Co-Curricular initiative has pursued other avenues as well.

Student Life has developed learning outcomes and means of assessment for all of their student-facing activities. One hope for this work has been that framing their work in terms of measurable learning outcomes would create greater alignment with academic learning outcomes. However, it may be that in addition to being on different sides of the house, academic and student affairs may not even speak the same language. The Curricular and Co-Curricular team is currently developing learning outcomes that align with the Strand goals. The intention is that will help faculty fully understand what students learn in Student Life, see how it supports their teaching, and integrate it into their work. Student Life is excited about the possibilities of this approach, and would like faculty input and support for the project.

Another approach that is being explored is the creation of a "College 101" course that would create a curricular home for these activities.