ARC Associates Program

Experiential Learning at IWU

The Associate Dean of Curriculum, the Associate Dean of the Faculty, and the Action Research Center (ARC) announce a grant program designed to further the University’s goal of “preparing students for democratic citizenship and life in a global society.” Recipients will be faculty who propose a new or revised experiential learning component to a course, research project, or community partnership. Up to three ARC Associate grants of $1000 each will be awarded. The deadline for submissions is December 10, 2012. Recipients will be notified by December 20.

All tenure-track and emeriti faculty are eligible as well as teaching faculty, full time or part time, who have taught at IWU for at least two years. Successful applicants will pursue at least one of the following experiential learning formats: (1) joining an existing ARC community-based research project; (2) adding a civic engagement component to a new course or a revision of an existing course; (3) overseeing a new or revised community-based research project with a student or group of students; or (4) facilitating a new or revised partnership with a community group. Grant awards may be taken as stipends or expenses (e.g., student wages) or a combination of each.

Each proposal must: (1) outline in detail the format used and the experiential learning goals to be addressed; (2) describe how experiential learning will be used to involve the faculty member and/or students in civic engagement or community research; (3) explain how the experiential learning format will incorporate (a) reflection, (b) integration, and (c) assessment; (4) indicate when the proposed activities will take place (those scheduled for 2013-2014 will be given preference) and how they will have a lasting impact; and (5) include the signature of the applicant’s department, school, or program head (an e-mail to this effect will suffice).

Successful applicants will be required to: (1) attend an ARC consultation session; (2) file a report of their learning outcomes for the ARC assessment plan; and (3) offer a public presentation of their work.

Proposals (four pages maximum) must be submitted electronically to: zdrici@iwu.edu .