aquinas college ireland program
DESCRIPTION
Aquinas College Ireland Program. 40 years of Cultural Immersion and Community Engagement. Institutional Commitment to Community Engagement & Service. Mission & Vision College Strategic Plan Publications (website and Aquinas Magazine) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Aquinas CollegeIreland Program40 years of Cultural Immersion and Community Engagement
![Page 2: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Institutional Commitment to Community Engagement & Service
• Mission & Vision• College Strategic Plan• Publications (website and Aquinas
Magazine)• Faculty Handbook – promotion and
tenure “evidence of academic-based service learning activities”
![Page 3: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
An Engaged Campus
Community
TEACHING
SERVICE
RESEARCH
![Page 4: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Co-Curricular Engagement and Service• Project Unite: Love Where You Live! • 14 week-long Service Trips• Student-led service through LLCs, Honors,
Athletics, Residence Life, Scholarships, CAVA, SAC, & Service clubs
![Page 5: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Service-Learning, Community Engagement and the Curriculum
• 2012-13 Academic Year• 1,274 (61%) of students engaged
in service • 465 students engaged in
curricular service• 15% of courses reported a
service-learning component
![Page 6: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Student Engagement
• Among our 2013 Seniors*:• 53% participated in a course-based community
project• 76% completed or will complete an internship,
student-teaching, or clinical placement• 29% participated in a study-abroad program
*Aquinas College data from the 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement
![Page 7: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
In the beginning…• Expand study abroad
opportunities• Irish studies with
commitment to community• Gertrude Horgan’s
fortuitous journey to Tully Cross in 1973• Leadership of
Dominican sisters: 19 semesters of service from 6 sisters
![Page 8: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Tully Cross,
• A unique rural cultural immersion experience• Study Center located
at the Renvyle Thatched Cottages • Spring semester:
16 weeks• Led by Aquinas
Professors
IRELAND
![Page 9: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Tully Cross
![Page 10: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Tully Cross
![Page 11: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
AcademicsRequired:
• Irish Literary Heritage (4 credits)
• Irish History (4 credits)
• Experiencing Irish Culture (4 credits)
Electives:
• Hiking (1 credit)
• Teacher’s Aides in National Schools (3 credits)
• Ireland Community Aides Internships (3 credits)
![Page 12: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
History of Community Involvement in Tully Cross• Foster program
• Christ the King Church
• Teachers’ Aides Program
![Page 13: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Teachers’ Aides in National Schools
• Participating Schools: Tully, Eagle's Nest, Lettergesh and Letterfrack
• These are two-room schools with one room for the upper levels (grades 4-6), and one for the lower (grades K-3).
• Recent regulations have restricted participation to students in the Education Program.
![Page 14: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Development of the Community Aides Internships
• Built upon the success of the Teachers’ Aides elective
• Original vision for the program: return to our Dominican roots
• Revitalizing reciprocal partnership
![Page 15: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Challenges to Community
• Peripheral & mountainous region: 790 km2: bounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean
• Connemara West Plc centred on Parish of Ballinakill - villages of Letterfrack, Tully, Tullycross, Moyard, Kylemore (c 1,900 inhabitants)
• Low population density and aging population
• Economically disadvantaged• Post ‘Celtic Tiger’• 160 active community, sporting
and social orgs
![Page 16: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Renvyle Thatched Cottages
• Proof of the power of Community Engagement!
• Cottages were one of the inaugural projects of Connemara West in 1971-1972. Focused on attracting tourism to the area.
• The revenue from the cottages led to Connemara West’s ability to invest in the development of its various programs and organizations…. which now host our students as interns.
![Page 17: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Connemara West, Plc.• Community owned and managed Development
Company established in 1971 to further the economic, social, and cultural life of the people in the Parish of Ballinakill.
![Page 18: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Foscadh Community
Development Ltd
Crèche
Youthreach
FORUM Connemara Ltd Teach Ceoil
Renvyle Thatched Cottages
Connemara Community Radio
The Furniture College
(partnership with GMIT)
Conservation Letterfrack
Connemara West Plc
![Page 19: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Why are the internships important to our Irish partners?• Gives Irish community members chance for cultural
interaction
• Volunteers always in short supply
• ‘Fresh pair of eyes’ always useful
• Thinking about internships necessitates reflection on their activities
![Page 20: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Why are the internships important to Aquinas?• Customization
• Accrual of credits for various majors
• Increased emphasis on career preparation
• Updating cultural immersion
• Commitment to Service and Community
• Recruitment, Retention, Relationships
![Page 21: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
2014 Participation
• 19 students in 2014 Ireland Program; 84% participation in school or internship placement• 2 students in Teachers’ Aides placements• 14 students in Community Aides Internships
![Page 22: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Video
![Page 23: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
2014 Internship Highlights
•Active Age Programme: Assisting with Friday Club meals and activities. Assist with preparation and delivery of Meals on Wheels. Accompany staff on visitation to homes.
•Adolescent Support Program: Prepare After School Activity Clubs for juniors and seniors and develop team building activities
•Community Creche: Prepare After School Activity Clubs for children ages 5 to 12
![Page 24: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
2014 Internship Highlights
• GMIT Letterfrack: Development of the alumni database and newsletter and social media outreach to alumni. Planning of various special events and assisting the Green Campus Committee
• FORUM Connemara (2 placements): Shadow FORUM staff and assist with local community development programs, rural recreation programs, and employment services
![Page 25: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Customized Internships• Renvyle Health Centre:
Open to pre-med students. Shadow Dr. Alex in his practice and assist with research projects. • Connemara National Park:
Assist with daily operations of park and contribute to ongoing scientific surveys of flora and fauna. Conduct research study on issue of interest to the National Park.
![Page 26: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Future Expansion • Educational tourism• Community Engagement reaffirmed
Aquinas’s commitment• Cottage renovations• Study center facilities and increased
capacity
![Page 27: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Future plans
• Crossroads for exploring future models, collaborations and expansion• Faculty sabbatical
research in course modules• Aquinas Program open
to guest students
![Page 28: Aquinas College Ireland Program](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062310/5681635d550346895dd42ae2/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Questions?
Joelle Baldwin: [email protected]
Dr. Jennifer Dawson: [email protected]
Dr. Kathy Kremer: [email protected]