The Engaged Scholar at Michigan State University
The Michigan State University Office of University Outreach and Engagement, headed by Associate Provost Hi Fitzgerald, has just published Vol. 1, Number 1 of The Engaged Scholar, a handsome and meaty 24-page booklet describing some of the many engaged scholarly activities at MSU. Many of us can tell similar stories about the engaged scholarly work of our faculty, staff, and students, but MSU has produced a particularly nice package.
Among other things, I liked a table that neatly describes the differences between traditional and engaged teaching, research, and service:
Traditional Academic Activity
- University faculty provide instruction to undergraduate and graduate students in campus classrooms and laboratories.
- University faculty members pursue research studies according to their various professions and interests, and publish results in academic books and journals.
- University faculty and students undertake departmental or college administrative duties and serve on committees.
Scholarly Engagement Activity
- engaged teaching occurs when... ...credit and noncredit learning opportunities are taken off campus, online, and to community-based settings to increase access; or when service-learning experiences advance students’ knowledge about social issues while contributing to the immediate goals of a project.
- engaged research occurs when... ...a collaborative partnership conducts an investigation for the direct benefit of external partners; outcomes of the research lead to improved, evidence-based practice.
- engaged service occurs when... ...a faculty member summarizes current research literature about an issue for working professionals or community organizations, offers research-based policy recommendations to legislators at a committee hearing, or provides medical or therapeutic services to the public.