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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Friends<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have been asked to gather your insights on faculty participation in living-learning communities and service learning. Definitions of those terms have been provided below my signature.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The University is studying how to increase the number of High Impact Practices students experience. The scholarship on High Impact Practices starts with Indiana University professor George Kuh. More information can be found at: <a href="http://www.aacu.org/leap/hip.cfm">http://www.aacu.org/leap/hip.cfm</a> .<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>High Impact Practices are curricular and co-curricular activities and programs that have been shown to contribute to retention and graduation. Living-learning communities and service learning efforts are High Impact Practices with a proven track record of improving student engagement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For entering undergraduates experiencing two or more High Impact Practices dramatically increases likelihood of completion. This effect is even stronger for first-generation and minority students. Given our student demographics, High Impact Practices make a lot of sense.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You may enter the survey at: <span style='color:black'><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NTLXFV9">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NTLXFV9</a> . There are nine questions. Most are objective, though there are comment spaces and comments are appreciated. Please respond by March 20, 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Ricky<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ricky Dobbs, Ph. D.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Professor of History<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dean, University College<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Texas A&M University-Commerce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Living-learning community - </span></i></b><i><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>residential communities with intentionally designed academic and/or thematic focus</span></i><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Service-learning - </span></i></b><i><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>a method of teaching that combines classroom instruction with meaningful community service. This form of learning emphasizes critical thinking and personal reflection while encouraging a heightened sense of community, civic engagement, and personal responsibility </span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>