Renovation of the lower level of Grasselli Library & Breen Learning Center and the Breen Learning center into a new collaborative learning space aligned with creative classrooms for skills enhancement, professional development, employment-readiness, writing center, tutoring, mini-courses to be more career ready, Career Services, Center for Service and Social Action. Students will be able to walk into the Magis Learning Commons through a new entrance at the ground level. Here is where the University lives it's learning outcomes. A Magis Learning Commons will provide a second hub for students to learn outside of their classrooms.
Last year, 138,783 hours of service were contributed by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ students. Encouraging service toward others is one of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s four main learning goals and key to developing future leaders and "men and women's for others." Expanding and strengthening the Center for Service and Social Action allows the University to increase the number of service learning programs on campus,Ìý inspireÌý a life-long commitment to serving others in our students, andÌý helps integrate the University and our students into the local and global community.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ students have opportunities to participate in over 10 different national and international immersion experiences in locations as close as Cleveland, Ohio and as far away as Ecuador. These life changing experiences inviteÌýand challenge participants to enter into solidarity with the people, culture, history, and other realities of the region. Each immersion focuses on several specific social justice issues relevant to each location. These experiences are central to the student-experience at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, and require additional funding eachÌý year in order to take place. Additionally, each year there are students who are prevented from participating in these programs due to the price of attending.
Employers and graduate schools expect students to have ample experience applying their knowledge to real-world problems, and doing real-world research. ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ students need expanded opportunities outside of the classroom to develop their capacities for critical thinking, data analysis, and professional communication. Funding for undergraduate research travel, paid internships, a 'Classrooms without Borders' endowment, and further funding of undergraduate research funds is critical to ensuring that ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ students continue to be sought by the best employers and the most prestigious graduates schools in the country.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s goal for Career Services is to secure additional support and resources to strengthen collaborations with the community for vocational guidance, teacher guidance, job placement, career counseling, and professional networking through innovative connections and partnerships. Career services is becoming more externally focused with a staff that engages and connects with stakeholders. Key initiatives involve supporting the Associate Vice President for Career Services' efforts for additional and increased professional resources to train and mentor students as well as funding to facilitate moving the Center into the lower level of Grasseli Library.