Through a program the Provost's Office is currently developing, students interested in public service could soon formally follow the example of the University's founder by pursuing the "Jefferson Track." The University's Board of Visitors approved the initial plans for the program -- which would take an academic approach to public service -- at this month's meeting, said Megan Raymond, acting director of University Outreach.
Students from many fields of study could participate in the interdisciplinary program, according to Milton Adams, University vice provost for academic programs.
"Almost any field, from engineering to architecture to religious studies, could have a part of this," Adams said.
A new perspective
The Jefferson Track is meant to offer a unique perspective on the University experience by bringing student interests into the classroom. Raymond said the program is based on recommendations from the Commission on the Future of the University and the President's Commission on Diversity and Equity.
Raymond added that student activism for the globalization of curriculum also played a role in the program's conception. These efforts include a proposed global development major by the Global Development Organization, as well as a curriculum internationalization effort most recently demonstrated by the Internationalization Direct Action event Feb. 8.
Raymond added that students also are interested in gaining real-world experiences and experiencing problem-based learning.
"What we want to do as an institution is allow students to [have] all those opportunities," Raymond said.
While the specifics of implementing the program have not been worked out yet, Raymond said the complete public scholars program will have four components: classes, a community research project, a capstone service project and a portfolio.
While Adams said he could foresee many students enrolled in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy also participating in the Jefferson Track, he stressed that the program would neither be limited to Batten students nor require five years to complete.
"It will be something that fits in four years of an undergraduate degree but [an additional project] could be added on for someone who wants to get a master's in public policy," Adams said.
The track is also separate from the existing Echols and Rodman scholars programs, although Adams said the programs could interact in the future. He said a fund could potentially be set up to give a $1,000 to $2,000 project grant to any Echols or Rodman scholar with an idea and a sponsoring faculty member.
Adams added that he hopes to make the program "as accessible to as many students as possible." To achieve this accessibility, Adams said the program aims to have variable award sizes. According to Adams, smaller grants would allow students of all years and levels to carry out research.
Adams said he envisions the program to be "pyramidal," in which many students can participate, especially at the base level of public service. He said many students are already involved in community service on Grounds through organizations like Madison House. "Our students are, as usual, leading the way," Adams said.
Adding academics
To give the public scholars program an academic element, new courses involving faculty from many different schools will be created, said Arthur Garson, executive vice president and provost.
Garson said the topics of these courses will reflect the Jeffersonian values of leadership and ethics, as well as more contemporary topics such as diversity. Adams added that courses in topics ranging from cultural differences and politics to microeconomics could be offered.
The academic component of the Jefferson Track will give students an "understanding of how to serve the public," Garson said.
Raymond said she is optimistic that community-engagement classes proposed by faculty members could be ready for the fall semester.
Some courses will be required for those on the Jefferson Track, Adams said, while other selections will be flexible and based on student interest and field of study.
Adams added that courses will not be limited to students on the Jefferson Track.
"Hopefully thousands would be able to take these classes and engage in projects connected to class and outside of class," Adams said.
The community component
While University students are already public-service oriented, Raymond noted, the community research component of the Jefferson Track will help direct and focus their work. The community research projects will be a first step for students to become involved in the Jefferson Track program, Raymond said.
Raymond added that opportunities for community research currently exist at the University, with the recent establishment of community-based research awards for undergraduates from the Office of University Community Partnerships and the Center for Undergraduate Excellence. The Jefferson Track could expand these grants, she said. The co-curricular framework is broad enough to include the next component of the Jefferson Track, the capstone service project. At this level, Adams said, it is likely not as many students will participate.
In a capstone project, a team of students with a faculty member or graduate student mentor would propose and execute a project tied to a local, regional, national or international community need, Adams said. Garson echoed this global interpretation of community, saying the project could be "in Charlottesville or India or anywhere in between." Adams said students are already leading and participating in community service projects, citing a group of students who volunteered in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Leadership is stressed in the capstone service project, Garson said. "By virtue of people being on the teams, we want them to lead and learn how to be on [a] team," Garson said.
Bringing it together
After completing the capstone project, students will further engage the community by sharing their findings. Adams said the portfolio component could take the form of a presentation at a conference or a published article.
Garson said the research could be published in a new University-based peer-reviewed journal, titled "Public," adding that the discussion between the students and community leaders would also be a beneficial aspect of the project.
"Ideally, the students could perhaps meet with community leaders to get feedback," Garson said. "That could be all the way from Charlottesville community leaders to the health minister of a country."
The next step
Raymond said the University will continue to be in contact with schools such as the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of Minnesota and Stanford University that have strong public service and leadership programs.
"We're looking at all the pages in the playbook and looking at what will work with at U.Va.," Raymond said.
With recent approval from the Board of Visitors, Raymond said the next step in launching the Jefferson Track is establishing the specifics before the Board reviews the program again.
"We are going to spend [the] next six to eight months looking at implementation," Raymond said.
Adams said the development of the program is a natural step in the University's curriculum, as students care about public service.
"It's clearly part of our DNA here at U.Va.," Adams said.
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