EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING • BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY • ENGAGEMENT • RECIPROCITY • GLOBAL REACH
Beyond Campus Walls
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xperiential learning. Industry partnerships. Community Engagement. These are the key components of MTSU’s community-centered approach to higher education, which results not only in greater student success but also an enhanced quality of life for residents across middle Tennessee. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to spotlighting MTSU’s commitment to these crucial roles. This new University publication highlights some of MTSU’s most remarkable efforts to enhance education through applied learning and thoughtful reflection while also meeting key community needs. Consider the following: EXL. In 2006, MTSU established an Experiential Learning Scholars (EXL) program, a campuswide effort in which the University emphasized hands-on activities and public service as an integral part of the learning experience. National research and MTSU data reveal the connection between experiential learning and higher student achievement. With the success of this program over the past decade, other institutions are looking at adopting MTSU’s model for student engagement and achievement. Recently, the University launched a new curriculum initiative called MT Engage, which emphasizes active learning and critical reflection from the moment students first arrive. These applied learning activities also provide significant value added to the communities in which our students learn, serve, and work. Examples of MTSU’s stellar experiential learning efforts can be found in stories included in this magazine. Industry partnerships. Also in this magazine are examples of MTSU’s successful partnerships with industry. One example is a new agreement between the Tennessee Department of Environ-
EDITOR’S LETTER ment and Conservation and MTSU to prepare workers for in-demand positions in the water supply and sanitation sector, which is expected to experience an employment growth rate of 45 percent in coming years due to regulations, infrastructure growth, security, and customer demand. (See page 16.) “This collaborative effort is a perfect example of the innovation that Tennessee needs,” said Mike Krause, executive director of the Drive to 55 initiative in the Office of Governor Bill Haslam. (The Drive to 55 is an effort to raise the percentage of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree, certification, or credential to 55 percent.) “We commend MTSU for continually seeking ways to contribute to the community and the state,” Krause said. Community engagement. MTSU has been recognized nationally for its community engagement efforts by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University was among only 240 colleges and universities across the country to receive the 2015 Community Classification that lauds colleges and universities that focus on community engagement. MTSU was first recognized for its efforts in 2008. The University prides itself on fostering relationships beyond campus that allow students, faculty, and staff to participate in projects and educational initiatives that advance the institution’s academic mission. From the study of local water quality to the use of campus resources to help military veterans successfully return to civilian life, this first edition of Partners magazine shows rather than tells the many ways MTSU students and faculty reach beyond the classroom and into the real world to apply their knowledge for the betterment of all. And from an editor’s perspective, it doesn’t make for a bad read, either. MTSU
National research and MTSU data reveal the connection between experiential learning and higher student achievement.
—Drew Ruble
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