Public Engagement

Peter Levine, in his "blog for civic renewal", gives the text of a speech he gave in November to "the annual convention of the grantees of Learn & Serve America, the federal program that supports community service tied to education."

He had "been asked to speak about the measurement and assessment of service-learning." He does so by discussing three points:

* The definition of civic engagement

* The importance of measurement and assessment

* The importance of service-learning

This is one of the most thoughtful pieces I've read recently. I won't try to reproduce Levine's arguments, but I would like to note his thoughts on a definition of "civic engagement":" any ethical way of addressing a public or common problem."

This is a lot simpler than the CIC's definition,

"Engagement is the partnership of university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good."

because it's not directly focused on the various manifestations of engagement in higher education and it doesn't explicitly include the notion of reciprocal partnership. But it's an attractive way of phrasing the general concept.

Levine's speech is interesting to read in context with the findings of the National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE), reported in today's Chronicle of Higher Education. See http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i13/13a03901.htm