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Service Learning through a Student-Run Consulting Program

Service Learning through a Student-Run Consulting Program. Nilupa S. Gunaratna, Purdue University Craig A. Johnson, BYU-Idaho John R. Stevens, Utah State University. Overview. Introduction Organizational structure Examples of clients and projects Benefits Challenges Factors of success.

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Service Learning through a Student-Run Consulting Program

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  1. Service Learning through aStudent-Run Consulting Program Nilupa S. Gunaratna, Purdue University Craig A. Johnson, BYU-Idaho John R. Stevens, Utah State University

  2. Overview • Introduction • Organizational structure • Examples of clients and projects • Benefits • Challenges • Factors of success

  3. Introduction • STATCOM (Statistics in the Community) • Student-run consulting service at Purdue University • Professional statistical consulting • Local government and nonprofits • No charge to clients • Voluntary student participation • A model for integrating service learning into graduate student education at other universities

  4. Consultants Projects Historical Summary 40 | | | | | 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 30 20 10 0

  5. Organizational Structure

  6. Organizational Structure Team Member Roles • Team leader • An additional experienced member • 2-3 other people

  7. Organizational Structure • Structure designed to • Spread out responsibilities • Involve more students in leadership • Develop consultants’ skills • Encourage peer mentoring • Accommodate many simultaneous projects • Minimize dependence on faculty • Build expertise within the body of students

  8. Examples of Projects • Sagamore Parkway Task Force • West Lafayette City Strategic Plan • Lafayette School Corporation • West Lafayette Public Library • P-12 Outreach

  9. Youth group home Youth organizations Performing artists Retirement center Family support center Campus groups at Purdue University Survey design & analysis Improving survey response rates Personnel retention Analysis of donor characteristics Graphical data summaries Other Examples (Confidentiality assured)

  10. Sample Report

  11. Documentation Typical Project Cycle

  12. Benefits – for Students • Skills • Leadership / Management / Teamwork • Written / oral communication (general public) • Translating client’s problem into a statistical problem • Solving the statistical problem • Translating results into a format useful to the client • Academic / Professional presentations • Biweekly meetings • Conferences / symposia • Public fora

  13. Benefits – for Students • Supplement to graduate education • Practical applications of coursework • Early involvement in graduate education • Maintain balance and perspective during graduate education • Good résumé builder • Intangibles

  14. Other Benefits • Department / College / University • Increased interaction and visibility • Engagement / Service • Good public relations & networking tool • Community • Obvious benefit: free consulting • More statistically sound methods • Enhanced partnership with the university

  15. Challenges • Developing organizational structure • Convincing faculty the benefits are worth the time • Finding first few projects • Projects that “fizzle” • Continuity from semester-to-semester • Documentation

  16. Factors of Success • Support from Department and Head • Support from individual faculty/advisors • Advising support • Student autonomy • Financial support • Brochures and business cards • Photocopies, meeting refreshments, etc.

  17. Factors of Success • Computer support • Laptops – Shared directory • Website – Email aliases • Faculty recognition • Enthusiasm fromgraduate students (natural) • Over 1/3 of students involved

  18. Conclusions • Many benefits • Enriches graduate student experience • Highlights department and university • Service to community • STATCOM can be used as a model for other community consulting services

  19. Regina Becker, Purdue University Teena Seele, Purdue University Nels Grevstad, Metropolitan State College of Denver Mary Ellen Bock,Purdue University George McCabe,Purdue University Doug & Cheryl Crabill,Purdue University Many student officers and consultants at Purdue University Acknowledgments statcom@stat.purdue.edu http://www.stat.purdue.edu/statcom/

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