New Student Success and Engagement Initiatives

New Initiatives Support Student Success

Two innovative programs to build student success at Muskingum have been established through the University’s $2.2 million Title III Strengthening Institutions grant received from the federal Department of Education.

The Center for Teaching and Learning: Coordinator Dr. Leann DiAndreth-Elkins, Instructional Technology Specialist Alaine Kay, Faculty Fellow Dr. Brian King, Faculty Fellow Dr. Ana Kehrberg.

The Center for Teaching and Learning

Muskingum’s new Center for Teaching and Learning was established in Summer 2021. The purpose of the Center is to assist faculty in enhancing their teaching practices and supporting student learning.

Dr. Leann DiAndreth-Elkins, Muskingum’s Executive Director of Disability Resources, serves as the Center’s coordinator. “Student involvement and engagement in the classroom is key to successful learning,” she explains. “By helping Muskingum faculty identify the creative practices they use in their classrooms and providing opportunities to share those ideas, we can assist them in supporting student engagement and positively influence student learning outcomes.”

Programs offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning incorporate technology training, professional development experiences, individualized consultations for faculty members, and new faculty orientation.

As Faculty Fellows, Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Ana Kehrberg and Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Brian King serve as resources for their peers. Frequent topics of discussion have included creating engaging assignments, encouraging student attendance, building classroom community, and brainstorming new teaching ideas.

The Center also hosts popular “Lightning Rounds,” in which faculty colleagues from across the disciplines quickly present a teaching practice that engages students and fosters active learning.

The Impact Center

The new Impact Center will focus on innovative career development programs and the expansion of experiential learning opportunities in Fall 2022.

By providing comprehensive programs, the Impact Center will help guide students from their first day on campus as they plan and prepare for meaningful employment, graduate study, or service.

Wide-ranging partnerships will be created with regional employers to offer multiple applied experiences for students. Within academic courses, for example, the classroom cohort may host speakers, take field trips to visit employer sites, and conduct a hands-on project in partnership with the employer. On an individualized basis, students will have expanded access to career exploration opportunities, mentorships, and internships.

Molly Dunn, Executive Director of the Impact Center, comes to Muskingum with a substantial background in building regional community connections. “Through the Impact Center, we can make a significant difference in students’ lives and at the same time support workforce needs and economic growth,” she said. “The new partnerships we create will benefit our students, the University, and the region.”

The Impact Center will be housed in the Top of the Quad Center when renovations to the facility are completed.