Concordia College is taking part in a national program to promote civic outcomes in higher education. The college is one of 18 campuses that were granted access to the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ VALUE Institute.
The project to Advance Evidence on the Efficacy of Civic and Community-Based Engagement in Higher Education was designed to develop national baselines for student performance on civic outcomes. The project is being funded by a grant from the Lumina Foundation, which helps improve access and success in education, particularly for underserved groups.
Faculty and staff representatives will undergo professional development throughout the Fall 2021 semester. In Spring 2022, each institution will submit at least 100 student works to be scored by the VALUE Institute. Project organizers will assess students’ work after engaging in community-based and civic experiences in local, national, and/or international contexts.
“It is truly an honor for Concordia College to be selected for this important opportunity,” Dr. Stephanie Ahlfeldt, associate provost, says. “By participating, we will be helping to advance the national conversation on civic and community-based engagement and improving our understanding of how well we are meeting our curricular outcomes.”
The project will culminate in the release of a summary report on findings and will include recommendations for how campuses and higher education, as a whole, can best support civic skill-building for all students.