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WHAT IS ENGAGED LEARNING?

In December 2008, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching awarded UVU as a member of its "community engaged" classification. This distinction not only reflects UVU’s long-rooted commitment to serving the needs of Utah County, but it also recognizes the institution’s emphasis on practical, real-world applications of what’s taught in classrooms and lecture halls.

In short, engaged learning implies that graduates should leave UVU with a diploma in one hand and a resume in the other so they can quickly become contributors in today’s fast-paced, competitive climate. To that end, UVU’s curriculum teaches the "how" and "why" in conjunction with the "what" and "who." At UVU, learning is accompanied by doing, which leads to becoming.

This Web site is designed to offer a glimpse at what engaged learning means for UVU students and the community they serve. In addition to pictures and video of student projects and contributions, you’ll find links to various resources, including UVU’s Center for Engaged Learning. Whether you are a potential student, community member or interested observer, we invite you to see what UVU students are learning, doing and becoming.

HIGHLIGHTED CENTER FOR ENGAGED LEARNING PROJECTS

	Linux Hotspots: UVU helps LOCAL BUSINESSES Students in Dr. Jeff Cold's advanced system administration course put their skills to work for the City of Provo, Canyon View Medical Group and Orem Fast Lube, establishing free wireless Internet access at each location. Students in the course were split into three teams and each assigned the task of start-to-finish setup of free wireless Internet for these three clients utilizing the skills they had learned in Linux/Unix, information technology and computer science. Through this project, the UVU students were able to gain valuable client interaction skills as they solved problems and successfully reconfigured Linksys wireless access points (WAPs). This project, which the patrons of downtown Provo and both local business will now be able to enjoy free of charge, was made possible by a $2,500 Community Engaged Learning grant. View Center for Engaged Learning Annual Report (pdf 5.6 MB) for more information about this grant Learn more about the Information Systems and Technology Department
	Independence High School: UVU helps 'AT RISK' SCHOOL UVU professor Steve Teeter took his students from the Woodbury School of Business to Independence High School, an alternative high school for at-risk students in the Provo School District, to facilitate an accounting course for the students there. The main goals for the project were to establish an introductory accounting course at the school and help the students succeed in this intense class through education in accounting technology and professional instruction. Professor Teeter and his accounting students brought an introduction to the business world to the Independence students, and in turn, invited them to visit UVU's School of Business as well. Perhaps one of the most valuable outcomes was the relationship established between the Independence students and the UVU team, which Teeter hopes can serve the students and school as they progress. View Center for Engaged Learning Annual Report (pdf 5.6 MB) for more information about this grant Learn more about the Woodbury School of Business
	Latinos Unidos Mentors: UVU helps MINORITIES Thirty UVU students engaged Latino students in local elementary, junior high and high schools by serving as student mentors and volunteering their time and resources for various Latino parent and teacher events. During the Latinos Unidos Mentors project, UVU students traveled to three elementary schools, two junior high schools and nine high schools -- speaking with more than 1,000 students -- and shared experiences about overcoming obstacles as they prepared for college. The visiting students aimed to inspire the hopeful, young Latinos to prepare for the bright futures available to them. A few other highlights of the project were the UVU Latinos Unidos mentors' involvement in Centro Hispano de Salud (Day of Health), two UVU Latino Parent Open Houses and Fiesta Navidena, a Christmas party at the Provo City Library. View Center for Engaged Learning Annual Report (pdf 5.6 MB) for more information about this grant View Going Global Newsletter vol. 4 issue 2 (pdf)
	Alternative fuels: UVU helps LOCAL CITY COMMUNITY Under the direction of professor Kent Walker, UVU automotive technology students have been invited to present their biodiesel fuel research findings at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Maryland. A CEL grant allowed UVU to establish its first official course on alternative fuels in fall 2008, and momentum for the project has continued to build since. The group's next goal is for the University to become a member of the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, for which the UVU student researchers have already garnered significant support from community contacts, including the Utah County Health Department, Utah and Salt Lake County Departments of Transportation and the City of Orem. View Center for Engaged Learning Annual Report (pdf 5.6 MB) for more information about this grant Learn more about the Automotive Technology Department
	Mediation: UVU helps LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS UVU's Dr. Grant Richards and a team of behavioral science faculty, staff and students have worked with administrators, counselors and student advocates at Mountain View HIgh School to develop a mediation program that began officially in fall 2008. A similar mediation program is in place to begin at Dixon Middle School in spring 2009. Through this project, approximately 60 students have found themselves working not only with the Alpine and Provo school districts but also with the county court system, providing mediation services and, in many instances, reaching an agreement for both parties before the case even gets to to court. Dr. Richards' students are gaining hands-on experience with the educational and mediation aspects of truancy, vandalism, fighting, drugs and parent/teen conflict. View Center for Engaged Learning Annual Report (pdf 5.6 MB) for more information about this grant Learn more about the Behavioral Science Department