Create! Give back! Try out a dream job! Build something the world has never known! MAKE YOUR MARK!
The Engaged Learning project is capstone-level, student driven research, civic engagement, professional internship or creative work that has clear project and clear personal learning goals. It impacts specific needs of a target population or community of practice beyond the SMU classroom.
A target population is a group of people that are served by a host agency or organization outside of SMU. A community of practice is a group of individuals engaged around common interests, such as the research and arts communities.
The project spans two academic years, typically junior and senior years, and has four phases: beginning with an idea and proposal the first year and doing the project, presentation and publication the second.
Students work with a mentor from proposal development throughout the project. The mentor is a SMU faculty or staff member who is also an expert in the topic of the project.
Project Timeline:
- Application Phase (Nov 15 - Feb 15):
Nov 15 - Application cycle opens
Feb 15 - Application cycle closes
Dec 15 - Application cycle closes for early decision applications
- Approval Phase
- Annual Cycle (Feb 15 - Apr 1):
Feb 15 - Application cycle closes; selection committee reviews projects for approval.
Apr 1 - University announces approved projects; students and mentors confirm participation.
- Early Decision (Dec 15 - Feb 1):
Dec 15 - ;Application cycle closes, selection committee reviews projects for approval.
Feb 1 - ;University announces approved projects; students and mentors confirm participation.
- Activity Phase (Apr 1 - Jan 15):
Apr 1 - Students' letters of agreement due, first day to begin new projects; students engage in proposed activity typically summer through end of fall term.
- Post-Activity Phase
- December graduating seniors (Oct 1 - Nov 30):
Mid-Oct - Students complete project activity mid-semester, prepare presentation.
Nov 30 - Students final product for publication due.
- May graduating seniors (Jan 15 - Apr 15):
Jan - Students complete project activity, prepare presentation.
Apr 15 - Students final product for publication due.
Here's How It Works:
Whether you're ramping up a project or developing your own, imagine. Make it Happen!
Why? Because it is important to you, your engagement in it will make an impact. You will learn about real issues in your area of study. You will learn about career realities. You will learn about yourself.
Where? Anywhere, the world is your classroom!
What? Select the work you want to do - scholarly research, civic engagement, professional internship or other creative activity, as long as it ties into your SMU education. Set your own personal, academic and career goals. Find a mentor to be your guide.
With whom? You decide! You know your project; find the people, organization, or community of practice that will benefit from your efforts.
Apply? Review the Project Proposal and Format guidelines. Also, check out the Scoring Template that the selection panel will use to review proposals.
Funding? Apply for it!
When? Start as soon as your project is approved.
MAKE IT HAPPEN!
What's next? Present your findings at the Engaged Learning Forum, typically held during the first week of spring semester. Turn in your final product (research paper, final report, creative artifact) by April 15.
At graduation, attend the Graduation Luncheon to be recognized for your work. SMU records your project title on your SMU transcript.
Over the summer, SMU publishes your research paper, final report or other creative artifact in the Engaged Learning Collections.
There are workshops available to guide you each step of the way. Check the workshop list and calendar. Plan to attend.