CAMPUS PROFILE

(MARS HILL, North Carolina)

The Bonner Community-Engaged Learning Initiative team at Mars Hill University includes leadership by Deb Myers, Director, Center for Community Engagement, Caroline Twiggs, Assistant Director, Center for Community Engagement, and Ann Peiffer, Associate Professor, Psychology and Art Therapy, Faculty Fellow 2019-2021.

Goal 1: Increase number of Community Engaged courses at MHU through faculty development and support in a cohort model.

Mars Hill University has two separate faculty cohorts for this project. The ACE Faculty Development program and the Community Engaged Course Developer cohort.

ACE Faculty Development Program

As a founding member of the ACE Taskforce, the Center for Community Engagement collaborates with the Center for Engaged Teaching & Learning, the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the OfIice of Disability Services, to develop this focused model of faculty development. This signiIicant change initiative, the “ACE” Model, will provide a focus for all MHU faculty development for the next several years and encompasses the ways in which MHU would like to see faculty improve and change their teaching. ACE stands for, A: Adaptability/Accessibility, C: Connection through Community, E. Equity.

The program trained a cohort of Iive ACE Faculty Mentors who developed an training program for 15 MHU faculty mentees to complete during the winter of 2021. The course challenges faculty to improve their understanding and practice of teaching as it relates to the ACE components. Each of the ACE Mentors support, challenge, and encourage mentees to integrate the concepts of ACE into their teaching for all of their courses beginning in the Spring of 2021 and continuing into the future. The ACE group continues to meet during the summer for regular faculty development.

Faculty Course Developer Cohort

Since the launch of the CertiIicate in Community Engagement in 2017, MHU CCE has been seeking opportunities to engage faculty in enriching teaching and learning strategies and more meaningful community projects. We currently have a core group of faculty who consistently use CE in their courses. We expanded our network of faculty with the CEL Initiative and have some new and exciting champions on campus through the Course Developer program.

Course Developers receive speciIic training and support to switch a current course into a Community Engaged Course or develop a new course using the Community Engaged Learning model. We prioritize courses that engage in social action, speciIically recruited one faculty member to engage in a Racial Justice project, and attempt to Iind faculty who have a broad reach with students including general education faculty, those that teach introductory courses and advanced courses, and faculty who teach common Iirst-year courses.

Goal 2: Deepen Community Engagement Curriculum through the establishment of a Community Engaged major and enhanced minor program.

The Center for Community Engagement worked with faculty and administrators to propose the Community and Nonprofit Leadership major. This major provides a clear pathway for students interested in community engaged work. The major was initially during Summer and Fall of 2019 and proposed in Spring 2020. The major received final approval in Spring of 2021 and several students have declared the major. Teaching in the major will begin in Fall of 2021. In order to create a successful major with appropriate curriculum, the Center staff reached out to alumni, interviewed Community Partners, reviewed current relevant coursework, and collaborated with many faculty members. More information can be found here: hRps://www.mhu.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/interdisciplinary-majors- minors/community-nonprofit-leadership/