HECUA -- About - 2003 Progress Report

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Stakeholders,

in HECUA,This report is a celebration of the change in higher education. It is dedicated to all of you – the many who have traveled the journey with us, exploring and discovering the openings for change.

The numbers of students and faculty participating in HECUA continues to grow at an astonishing rate, and an impact evaluation completed last fall tells a striking story. For the first time in HECUA history, and following a period of intentional growth aimed at increasing partnerships around shared mission, we sought comprehensive feedback from our partners - students, alumni, faculty, college leadership and community practitioners. We are buoyed by the results that tell a story of our impact as we make the journey together.

— Impact on faculty and teaching: 92% of faculty said that their involvement with HECUA has significantly affected their teaching content and/or method.
—Impact on connections: 58% of faculty said that HECUA has definitely strengthened their collegial relationships within and across institutions.
—The value of HECUA's approach to teaching and learning: 90% of alumni, community sites, faculty, deans and even non-participants, hold HECUA in very high esteem with a strong belief in its approach.
—Impact on the community: HECUA's presence infuses energy and fresh perspective to important community work and fosters a commitment to learning and community-building.
—And, most importantly, impact on student learning outcomes and their lives: 65% of long-term alumni said that HECUA had a very high impact on their careers.

The vast majority of all alumni validated the life-changing impact of HECUA.

The stories in this report highlight many examples of extraordinary impact that together show how we foster the core mission of the liberal arts - producing good citizens. You will see much that is familiar. It represents the excellence of a practice that has been our trademark for 30 years. You also will see many new and innovative ways in which this practice is addressing new challenges and infusing change in the academy itself.

These are uncertain and tumultuous times. And this is no time to retreat. HECUA is a formula that works and provides the tools for making change. We help students and faculty look outward and advance the college mission of civic engagement. The values that guided HECUA from the start are the values that are shaping new futures. With a central focus on student learning, the gains are great. We are called to our mission with a greater commitment than ever.

This report documents work well done and inspires us to continue the journey. As this report goes to print, HECUA is making plans for the next segment of work toward our vision that revolves around a continued commitment to excellence and innovation and ways of broadening the work so more can benefit from our collective experience.As always, HECUA looks forward to continuing the conversation,