Beyond the Classroom

Beyond

ETSU LAUNCHES QEP AIMED AT STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Dr. Barbara Jacoby was the keynote speaker at the QEP kickoff.

Recognizing that learning often takes place beyond the walls of traditional classrooms and laboratories, East Tennessee State University has launched a new initiative that strengthens the university’s communityengaged learning experiences.

ETSU created a community-engaged learning quality enhancement plan (QEP) in 2022 as part of the university’s reaffirmation and accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Over the next five years, the ETSU community will work together to facilitate the integration of academic coursework and community partnerships that foster student and community development.

To set the foundation for this new initiative, ETSU formally launched the QEP October 13-14, with an event titled “Why Community-Engaged Learning at ETSU? Why Now?” featuring keynote speaker Dr. Barbara Jacoby, a higher education expert who has authored five books on community-engaged learning.

“The QEP will build upon ETSU’s longterm commitment to community engagement, specifically by enhancing students’ abilities to take their classroom learning into the world to address the challenges that are facing our society,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics. “As we consider the future for ETSU, we hope that community-engaged learning will inform our students’ aspirations and career paths and help them define what it means to be an engaged citizen in a diverse world.”

Community-engaged learning is a form of experiential education in which students participate in activities outside of the classroom such as servicelearning, research, public service, project-based learning, and internships and experiential learning opportunities. Through this work, students address human and community needs together with structured opportunities for reflection that are designed to help them achieve learning outcomes.

Dr. Susan McCracken joined the university in June 2022 as Vice Provost for Community Engagement and Director of the QEP. She is looking forward to working with campus and the community to develop new opportunities for community-engaged learning.

“I’ve experienced firsthand the teamwork, creativity, leadership, and commitment to students that define the ETSU faculty and staff, and I’ve been fortunate to have interactions with students every day since I’ve been here,” McCracken said. “I have also been listening to the needs of the community. These interactions and the work that ETSU is doing to build its QEP are informing new ways that our students can go beyond the classroom to learn and to make a difference.”