Student Success: Learning & Engagement DIVISIONAL COUNCILS Fall 2010

Inspiring Lives of Leadership & Purpose Laurier’s institutional proposition is designed to reflect the ethos of Laurier as a whole, the unique experience of its students and the responsible actions of its graduates. Need to integrate vision, mission, values, guiding principles, academic plan, co-curricular learning outcomes

Wilfrid Laurier University Teaching & Learning and Research: Two sides of a coin

The Challenge: Learning Learning is best achieved by the integration of cognitive attributes, personal development, and the reflective transformation that impacts behaviour. Because we know that learning takes place across the campus in formal and informal settings, all members of the campus community should share the responsibility for it.

The Goal: Student Success: Learning & Engagement How intentional and “educationally purposeful” we are in meeting student learning needs is a powerful predictor of student success. Kuh (2004) Learning Reconsidered

Student Success: Learning & Engagement University Wide/Policy Council of Teaching and Learning (new in 2009/10) Academic Plan & co-curricular student learning outcomes Program Based Capstone courses and projects Undergraduate and graduate research and scholarship Work integration (co-op, community service, internships, practica, field placements, international exchange) Early Alert, Take 2, Boost, STEP (retention programs) Student athlete development Study Skills, Supplemental Instruction Math Assistance Centre Faculty and discipline-level academic advising

Student Success: Learning & Engagement Available to All Students 1 st year and graduate year transition (e.g. Head Start, Graduate Student Orientation) Career development and planning Central Academic Advising Learning Services & Accessible Learning Restorative justice Academic and personal integrity instruction Health & wellness Student Selected Residential learning communities Cultural certification and international exchange Student leadership development Writing Centre

A Bold Vision Intentional and timely intersections of academic scholarship and enriching experiential involvement provide students with the right opportunities, at the right time during their student experience, maximizing meaningful engagement and graduation success.

A Bold Vision How are we going to deliver this bold vision at Laurier? Pedagogically-sound and widely-tested high impact teaching and learning practices that have proven educational benefits. The Laurier Learning Pathway

Building the Laurier Learning Pathway Valuing of excellence in teaching, pedagogical approaches and learning support Identification of learning objectives and outcomes in every academic program o Integrates Academic Plan core principles with degree-level expectations and leadership and developmental outcomes A 1 st year transition emphasis Every student to engage in at least one high impact educational practice in her/his major Graduate students: learners and educators (dual role)

Delivering the Laurier Learning Pathway What are high impact practices? 1 st year seminars and experiences o Bring faculty/staff and students together Common intellectual experiences o “Core curriculum”: curricular and co-curricular options Learning communities o Integration of learning across courses Writing-intensive courses o At all levels across the curriculum Collaborative assignments and projects o Working and solving problems with others

Delivering the Laurier Learning Pathway Undergraduate/graduate research o Research experiences in all disciplines Diversity/global learning o Courses/programs that explore cultures, life experiences and worldviews Community-based service learning o Field-based experiential learning with community partners Work integration o Experiential learning in co-ops, internships, practica, etc. Capstone courses and projects o Integration of prior learning

The Laurier Learning Pathway Operationalizing the Academic Plan o High impact learning approaches to integrate the Academic Plan and degree-level expectations with student success and developmental outcomes Strategic Investment Fund, Development Funds o Opportunity to re-vision our approach to a Laurier education and student success o Silo-free and with a more integrated and holistic approach How will the transformation take place?

The Laurier Learning Pathway VPAC Leadership in Partnership with Student Affairs o Building on existing foundation to lead institutional change o Making it work in the academic and academic support units  Across campuses, disciplines, and units with different approaches, priorities and philosophies  With resources that will be limited o Moving out of our boxes and into a brave new world…

The Laurier Learning Pathway Associate VP: Teaching & Learning o New position at Laurier, reporting jointly to VP: Academic and VP: Student Affairs o Integrates academic and student affairs  Teaching support services, learning services, academic integrity  Responsible for undergraduate new program reviews and cyclical program reviews (graduate in collaboration with FGPS)

The Laurier Learning Pathway What does it look like for… A multi-campus university? o “Niche” foci The Faculties? o Disciplines need to “own” their own approach/philosophy within the umbrella o Funding “best practices” Graduate students? o Learners, scholars and educators The Library? o Scholarship, learning commons…

The Laurier Learning Pathway What does it look like for… Teaching Support and Learning Services? Student Affairs (Residence Life, Co-op, Career Development, Community Service- Learning, Student Leadership, Diversity & Equity, Athletics & Recreation, etc.)? Recruitment and Admissions? Retention (learning support, changes in scholarship approach, etc.)? Graduation requirements (academic, e-portfolios, co-curricular records, leadership, etc.) International Office? Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing, Development & Alumni Relations, Advancement Services? Others?

The Outcome: The Laurier Learning Pathway The outcome is purposeful, integrative student education that takes account of cognitive, personal and behavioural dimensions… achieved through transformative high impact practices and collaborative partnerships with those responsible for purposeful education at Laurier.

The Goal: Student Success: Learning & Engagement What difference does it make for students? Acclimation Involvement Academic and career decisions Student learning Personal growth and development

The Goal: Student Success: Learning & Engagement What difference does it make for educators? Pedagogies Professional fulfillment Faculty-student interaction Interdepartmental collaboration Recognition

The Goal: Student Success: Learning & Engagement What difference does it make for institutions? National and international recognition Institutional focus Enhanced commitment to student learning from faculty, staff and students Accountability and outcomes-based practice

The Bold Vision: The Laurier Learning Pathway Questions and Reflections