Academic Community Engagement
Academic Community Engagement (ACE) is a teaching method that combines community engagement with academic instruction. This pedagogy encourages students to use the skills, knowledge, and dispositions learned in the classroom to collaborate with community partners to contribute to the public good.
According to the National Survey for Students Engagement Annual Report (2002), "Community Engagement provides students with opportunities to synthesize, integrate and apply their knowledge. Such experience makes learning more meaningful and ultimately more useful because what students know becomes part of who they are." Students learn to value community involvement through their ACE activities. They develop an understanding of the benefits of community engagement - with the ultimate goal of becoming lifelong engaged citizens that contribute to the public good.
Additional research has found that ACE enhances academic performance and has shown to have a significant positive effect on GPA, writing skills, critical thinking skills, a commitment to community, self–efficacy, and leadership ability.
Each semester, SHSU offers over 200 courses with the ACE attribute that spans all colleges and most disciplines.
• Foaling Practicum students work in partnership with Birdsong Farms to provide foal watch and assist with foaling.
• Technical Writing students partnered with the Houston Police Department to create standard operating procedures, a white paper on operations and marketing materials for the unit. The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) unit continues to use the resulting products.
• Photography students partner with nonprofit organizations to take photos and educate the community about the organization’s work. One semester, in collaboration with a local animal shelter, the students photographed animals in costume and took candid shots to increase adoption prospects. Their photos were featured in SHSU’s satellite gallery and in the local newspaper.
For Students
As a student, Academic Community Engagement (ACE) courses provide you with the opportunity to make a difference in many communities and to improve the quality of life for the people affiliated with the organizations which you will be assisting. Enrolling in ACE courses helps you to embody the mission of the university. Benefits to students include:
- Gain real-world experience
- Develop essential skills
- Prepare for your career
- Contribute to positive change
- Faculty and community professionals as mentors
For Community Partners
ACE courses have the explicit goal of being mutually beneficial for students and our community partners alike. Students are excited and eager to learn from professionals in various fields as they gain real-world experience. Faculty members guide students through course concepts, teaching them skills that apply to your partnership. Benefits to community partners include:
- Assistance from university students and faculty
- Expanding organizational capacity
- Strengthening various community-university relationships
- Organizational visibility and recognition
- Mutual learning and positive community impact
Contact Us
Phone
(936) 294-4559