The Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability
Washington & Lee University
Certificate/Transcript Recognition in Poverty and Human Capability Studies
http://shepherdapps.wlu.edu/default.asp

Unique:
The program is unique in its curricular and co-curricular focus on poverty and human capability. Program components include: transcript recognition, interdisciplinary academic instruction; discipline-based courses; academic focus complemented by co curricular opportunities; student run organizational support; student leadership opportunities & focus on vocation; directed by a senior tenured faculty member; full-time summer internships for student to work with non-profits and government agencies providing direct service to disadvantaged persons and communities; collaboration with Bonner Scholar Schools, and Berea, Middlebury, Morehouse and Spelman Colleges; potential for a consortium of schools with similar programs combining curricular and co-curricular work in a sustained study of poverty and human capability.

Website Features:

Offers PDF files of Student theses & research papers; offers a Service-Learning Materials for Faculty and Students; Syllabi samples; Resource on Poverty Research; overview and job descriptions for summer internships.

Program Objectives:

1. Prepare students to address poverty and human development as future professionals (in any career: business, community development, education, government, healthcare, law, ministry, politics, public policy, or social services)
2. Prepare engaged citizens to alleviate poverty
3. Inform students about poverty and anti-poverty strategies
4. Provide effective service to non-profit and government agencies that serve poor persons and communities—87 years of service in seven years
5. Enable W&L students to learn from students at Berea, Morehouse, Spelman, Middlebury and Bonner Foundation Schools
6. Contribute an effective “new approach” to alleviating poverty in the United States

Structure/Governance:

The Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability emerged from faculty initiative in the early1990s and began in 1997 with support from Nancy and Tom Shepherd '52 at Washington & Lee University in Virginia. It was designed to terminate in six years; however, student need and attraction to studying and working first hand with poverty developed the program to where it is now. The program is designed to supplement all majors, offering a sustained combination of academic studies and practical experience focusing on fostering human development to alleviate poverty. Graduates of this Program are not only sensitive to the serious problem of poverty but also know what questions to ask so that their decisions as professionals and engaged citizens will impact favorably on impoverished communities and persons. Three full time staff and a half time administrative assistant run the Shepherd Program. (1) Program Director, a senior faculty member, directs program and teaches interdisciplinary courses (2) Coordinator of Co curricular Education oversees Shepherd Alliance and Project for Public Service Employment (3) Service Learning Coordinator is the Bonner Leader Director and oversees all service learning and community based research opportunities.

Relationship of Program to Institution’s Mission:

Approximately 75 students per year enroll in the Shepherd program introductory course. The Shepherd program has joined an alliance with Berea, Spelman, Middlebury and Morehouse Colleges and The Bonner Foundation to provide students with summer internships. Students from these schools live and work together during the summer internship. The academic study of poverty from an interdisciplinary perspective enables students to pursue professional careers with a critical social consciousness, prepares students for objective analysis of ethics and poverty, and inspires a commitment to addressing human capabilities in the community.

Foundational Pillars:

Co-curricular opportunities are integrated with interdisciplinary and discipline-based academic coursework relating to the certificate requirements of the Shepherd Program. The program is intense in that it engages in at least one full time summer service internship. The program requires 9 courses (16 credit hours), which takes students two to four years, a multi-year model, to complete within their academic career. The Shepherd Program focuses on poverty and human capability within a developmental and sequential model. The program seeks the support of other academic disciplines to join forces in bridging student interest and major to issues of poverty. The program highlights that domestic poverty is a global issue. The focus on poverty, student reflection and experience working hands on with impoverished urban and rural communities, allows students to consider poverty from an interdisciplinary perspective including public policy, economics and sociology in addition to philosophy, ethics, and theology – which is integral to the Shepherd program both in academic and extracurricular arenas. Interdisciplinary by nature, the program combines courses with the Economics, Anthropology, English, Journalism, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, and Women’s

Studies.Program/Course Architecture:

A Lead In Course – Introductory course entitled, “"Poverty and Human Capability: An Interdisciplinary Introduction" – program also supports a unique weeklong pre-orientation program named Volunteer Venture. (Volunteer Venture student leaders are required to take this course.)
Discipline Based Courses -Several discipline based courses with a poverty component are offered. Student demand has led to an increase in the number of courses offered
International Exposure –Students interested in studying poverty on a global level enroll in an additional introductory course titled “International Development”
Full Time Internship – Required; non-credited 8 week, full time summer placement working first hand with disadvantaged persons and communities in urban and rural areas including Dorchester, MA, Washington, DC, Cabin Creek, WV and the Mississippi Delta. All internships are with direct service agencies. They are not think tanks or policy related organizations. For example, students are intern investigators with a public defenders office, run summer programs to encourage youth to develop an interest in healthcare services, and work with the small business division of an economic development corporation helping persons start their own businesses.
Capstone Seminar – Joint class with undergraduates and law school students. All participants complete an in-depth research project related to their specific interests. Student papers are available on our website

Specific Courses of Study for transcript recognition:

1. Interdepartmental 101 - "Poverty and Human Capability: An Introduction.” – Required
2. Interdepartmental 450 "Shepherd Alliance Summer Internship" – A Shepherd Alliance Full Time Summer Internship (non-credited – 8 weeks) – Required
3. At least four (10 credits) courses in the following:
A. Interdepartmental 102 "Field Work in Poverty and Human Capability" (1 credit)
B. English 233 “Literary Approaches to Poverty”
C. Anthropology 260 – “Conflicts in Eurasia: Globalization, New States, and Soviet Legacies”
D. Economics 205 “Economics of Social Issues”
E. Economics 280 “Developmental Economics”
F. Economics 297/b “Economics of Poverty” & “Economics of Education”
G. Journalism 295D “The Journalism of Poverty”
H. Law: Child Abuse and Neglect Seminar
I. Philosophy 215 “Social Inequality & Fair Opportunity”
J. Politics 295 “International Development”
K. Politics 295/a “African Politics”
L. Psychology “Effects of Poverty on Children & Families”
M. Sociology 202 “Contemporary Social Problems”
N. Sociology 228 “Race & Ethnic Relations
O. Sociology 264 “Work & Family”
P. Spanish 204 “Advanced Conversational Skills in Spanish” (with service learning component)
Q. Independent Study (poverty focus – must be approved by Director)
4. Capstone Course - Interdepartmental 423/Law 391 – "Poverty: A Research Seminar" - Required

Learning Outcomes for Students:

To demonstrate the knowledge of:
A. The nature, scope, causes, effects, and possible remedies for poverty as a religious, moral, political, economic, legal, psychological, and biological problem in its domestic and international contexts. Students explore questions such as: what is it like to live in poverty? How should we define and measure poverty? Are there different kinds of poverty? What are the effects on individuals, families, communities and societies? What values does it undermine? What moral and legal rights to the poor have, and what obligations to do society, organizations and individuals have to the poor? Do the poor also have obligations to society?
B. Possible remedies including social policy, role of non-governmental organizations and individual obligations

Strategies for Bonner Connection

Role of Service: The majority of W&L’s Bonner Leaders participate in the Shepherd Program. Bonner Leader’s involve peers in service work, encourage peers to think about issues related to poverty and human capability, and participate in the Shepherd Alliance.

Student Leadership: The program links educational theory with praxis. As a result, students connect education, service, and future vocational work as having a chance to address issues of poverty and to make a positive impact towards social change. The Shepherd program, its alliance, and the Bonner program further enhance student opportunities to connect poverty studies with the larger framework of community and domestic issues locally/nationally/globally.

Community Partnerships: Partnerships are with local and national organizations. All partnerships are listed on our website http://shepherd.wlu.edu
Essay Suggestions – Story of Transformation
+ Why was the Shepherd program as attractive as it was to students – what made it so imperative that after six years the program was able to develop from student initiatives? As a result, how has the program changed these students’ lives both in college and beyond (culturally changed)?
+ How has the program transformed the lives of W&L students but also the institution itself? Expand on how the program came to be – key people, insights, etc – and faculty/staff definitions/insights on poverty as a central studied/experienced issue/field of interest.
+ How did faculty from other departments became involved, what they see as important to poverty studies, and how poverty studies has become more of a major/field.
+ What is the Bonner story or incorporation? What effect has the Shepherd Alliance had?
+ What effect has the Shepherd Alliance had?
+ What effect has giving student leadership roles had and is that a successful methodology in encouraging civic engagement or involvement?