Objective 3.2.4 Strategies and Objectives
3.2.4 The University will continue to work with the Maine Campus Compact and others to increase experiential learning opportunities for students through expanded job shadowing and community service.
In FY '08 UMA will shift supervision of Community Engagement from Student Life to the Academic & Career Advising Department and will add a university-funded Coordinator of Community Engagement in FY '09. While still coordinating with the academic colleges and the Department of Student Life, student volunteerism and Service Learning activities will be more closely integrated with existing UMA career development and credit for prior learning programs. Once staff continuity and proficiency are ensured, the Coordinator will be charged to draft in spring '09 a program improvement plan including targets for training, faculty and student participation levels, and program assessment strategies. UMA will retain an active role on the Steering Committee of the statewide Maine Campus Compact which provides professional development opportunities in Service Learning, and student civic engagement, leadership development, and volunteerism. The Director of Advising and the UMA Student Services Advisory Committee* will ensure that established benchmarks are met or adjusted appropriately as unanticipated challenges and opportunities arise.
As stated in 2.3.2, this standing committee, evolved from the prior NEASC Standard Six Self-study Group, may be asked to provide oversight and feedback on any departmental activities of Student Development or Enrollment Services.