Senate Reference No. 06-5

IPFW

Request for a New Certificate Program

Campus: Fort Wayne

Proposed Title of Certificate Program: Certificate in Civic Education and Public Advocacy (CCEPA)

Projected Date of Implementation: Spring, 2006

I. Type of certificate

REGULAR CERTIFICATE – This certificate program will require one year of academic work.  It is structured to utilize regular academic credit courses.  This certificate program corresponds with the HEC’s definition of certificate programs.

II. Why is this certificate needed? (Rationale)

As a participant in the American Democracy Project (ADP), IPFW is striving to find ways to create an intellectual and experiential understanding of civic engagement for undergraduates.  The goal is to produce graduates who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful actions as citizens in a democracy.  This begins with thoughtful discussions of issues such as equality, justice, liberty, war, and peace.  It is enhanced by examination of the practical manifestations of these ideas in government structures and public policies.  It is completed through field experience in civic engagement.  The Certificate in Civic Education and Public Advocacy (CCEPA) will institutionalize that educational experience.

There is another practical reason that this certificate is needed at IPFW.  Fort Wayne has been practicing community-oriented policing and government (COP & COG) for years.  Allen County is moving in this same direction.  This style of government calls for the engagement of residents with the government to identify community needs and solutions to make the community a better place to live.  The better prepared the community is to view things from a variety of perspectives, build coalitions, collaborate, and negotiate, the more efficiently and effectively it will be able to work with the government.

This certificate requires more than learning the basic structure of government.  It is learning the historical and philosophical foundations of our democracy; it is questioning long-established ideas; it is about preparing a person to be an informed citizen or public servant, to understand current public policy issues, and to succeed in a wide variety of careers.

List the major topics and curriculum of the certificate.

The CCEPA focuses on linking methods, theory, and skills-based training to active student learning and community-based projects.  To earn a CCEPA, a student will have to complete 19 credit hours.  The requirements for the certificate are listed below.

Credits	Courses
1	POLS Y101 Principles of Political Science
3	Introduction To Government and Politics POLS Y103 Introduction to American Politics POLS Y306 State Politics in the United States POLS Y307 Indiana State Government and Politics POLS Y308 Urban Politics SPEA V170 Introduction to Public Affairs SPEA V264 Urban Structure and Policy
3	Essential Communication Skills POLS Y205 Elements of Political Analysis ENG W233 Intermediate Expository Writing COM 210 Debating Public Issues
6 (at least one political science course)	Promise and Problems of Democracy POLS Y105 Introduction to Political Theory POLS Y381 History of Political Theory I POLS Y382 History of Political Theory II POLS Y383 American Political Ideas I POLS Y384 American Political Ideas II PHIL 240 Social and Political Philosophy COM 316 Controversy in America HIST A210 The Black Woman in America HIST A306 Sex Roles and Society in American History HIST A313 Origins of Modern America HIST A321 History of American Thought I HIST A322 History of American Thought II HIST A345 American Diplomatic History I HIST A349 Afro-American History ENG L232 Topics in Literature and Culture ENG L250 American Literature Before 1865 ENG L251 American Literature Since 1865 ENG L379 Ethnic and Minority Literature SOC S300 Race and Ethnic Relations SOC S309 The Community SOC S317 Inequality SOC S338 Sociology of Gender Roles Topics courses from the departments listed above may be used for this requirement with the approval of the CCEPA Administrator.

3	Policy Formation and Analysis and Government Operations POLS Y301 Parties and Interest Groups POLS Y303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States POLS Y312 Workshop in State and Local Government POLS Y317 Voting Elections and Public Opinion POLS Y378 Problems in Public Policy POLS Y394 Public Policy Analysis POLS Y200/Y401 Political Topics (if topic is approved) SPEA V365 Urban Development and Planning SPEA V372 Government Finance and Budgets
3	Capstone Course POLS Y398 Internship in Urban Institutions POLS Y480 Undergraduate Readings in Political Science POLS Y482 Practicum
19	Total

I. What are the admission requirements?

Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to IPFW and have successfully completed or been exempted from W131.

II. List the major student outcomes (or set of performance based standards) for the proposed certificate.

Students in the CCEPA will:

· Recognize they are a part of a larger society and that every person has value. 

· Understand that as a part of a larger society, they share the responsibility for addressing social issues. 

· Acquire the knowledge, skills, and ability through classroom learning and active student learning to function effectively in a variety of workplace and community-based roles and activities. 

· Develop the necessary language and technical skills for purposeful inquiry and communication. 

· Be able to clarify issues in the community, develop a plan to address the issues, and marshal support for that plan.

· Understand how to involve the community in decision-making processes and see the value in doing so. 

· Know how to marshal the resources to address the needs of the community and feel obliged to contribute to the betterment of the community. 

· Become directly involved, through the capstone course, in a community-based project.

· Be civic professionals.

Specifically, students who earn a CCEPA will:

· Be involved in at least one community-based project.    

· Identify at least one issue in the community, develop a plan to address the issue, and build support for that plan. 

· Involve the community in decision-making processes.

· Marshal the resources to address the needs of the community.

III. Explain how student outcomes will be assessed (course-embedded assessments, graduate follow-up, employer survey, standardized tests, etc.).

Students will be evaluated on their performance in the capstone experience and paper by the agency and the instructor.  The evaluation will be based on a rubric rooted in the learning objectives identified in section IV.  Also, a curriculum map is being developed for this certificate.  This will ensure that the courses are related to the learning objectives identified in section IV.  It also will help the students select courses that cover the learning objectives. 

IV. Describe student population to be served.

The CCEPA will attract area neighborhood and community activists, those employed by social service, nonprofit, and governmental organizations as well as lobbyists, elected and appointed officials, and political operatives.  This target population crosses racial, ethnic, and income lines.  The CCEPA also presents an opportunity to bring people to IPFW who recognize the need for further skills development and may later become interested in earning an associate’s or baccalaureate degree. 

V. How does this certificate complement the campus or departmental mission?

IPFW is a public comprehensive university, created by Indiana University and Purdue University to serve the higher education needs of northeastern Indiana.  Our mission is to offer a broad range of high quality undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs that meet regional needs, to support excellence in teaching and learning, to advance and share knowledge through research and creative endeavor, and to work with the community to develop intellectual, cultural, economic, and human resources.

One of the goals in IPFW’s strategic plan is to “promote the scholarly and creative achievements of faculty, students, and staff.”  As strategies to meet this goal, the university has made a commitment to “offer an array of research opportunities for faculty” and “provide incentives for collaboration.”  The CCEPA will provide opportunities for collaboration between faculty members and departments on community-based research projects. 

Another goal in the IPFW strategic plan is to “advance the quality of life in Fort Wayne and the surrounding region.”  One strategy to meet this goal is to “offer lifelong learning opportunities.”  At 19 credit hours, the CCEPA can be completed in 12 months and will provide an attractive program for area professionals.  Seeking the CCEPA may also inspire some students to pursue a degree.  Finally, the CCEPA will institutionalize IPFW’s commitment to the ADP.

VI. Describe any relationship to existing programs within Indiana University.

The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics (MDCfIP) is a nonpartisan organization designed to help the people of Indiana understand the role of politics and government in their daily lives.  By doing this, the MDCfIP hopes to increase informed participation in political and public processes.  The Director of the MDCfIP is also the campus coordinator for the ADP.  Given the CCEPA’s close ties to the ADP and natural relationship with the MDCfIP, it is logical that the MDCfIP administer the CCEPA through the Department of Political Science. 

The CCEPA relies heavily on courses being taught in the Department of Political Science, and, secondarily, on courses taught in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the departments of history, English, sociology, communication, and philosophy.  As the program develops, there will be opportunities to develop new courses.  Additionally, the CCEPA will provide numerous community-based research opportunities and activities for faculty members including program evaluations, needs assessments, and community development and planning. 

VII. List and indicate the resources required to implement the proposed program.  Indicate sources (e.g., reallocations or any new resources such as personnel, library holdings, equipment, etc.).

Given the role of the MDCfIP and the fact that the Director is also the campus coordinator for the ADP, it is logical that the MDCfIP administer the CCEPA as a program of the Department of Political Science. 

VIII. Describe any innovative features of the program (e.g., involvement with local or regional agencies, or offices, cooperative efforts with other institutions, etc.).

The capstone course will require students to engage in community-based activities.  This will provide an opportunity to forge partnerships with public agencies and community organizations. 

______________________    __________                ______________________    __________

James Lutz, Chair                     Date                             Andrew Downs, Director          Date

Department of Political Science                         Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics