Tacoma Program: Fall 2007 - Spring 2008
The Tacoma program is committed to providing its students with an interdisciplinary, reality-based, community-responsive liberal arts education. The program operates from a frame of reference that values family, community, collaboration, inclusivity, hospitality and academic excellence. Recognizing the importance of personal and professional growth, research and scholarship, and commitment to community and public service, the Tacoma program seeks to provide a catalytic climate for intellectual, cultural and social growth. Evergreen's educational approach provides a unique opportunity for students to go into local communities and engage in research, education and problem-solving projects that are as beneficial to those communities as they are to our students. The Tacoma program seeks to be a nexus for activities directed toward responding to community needs. We see ourselves as a resource not only for students, but also for the broader community. Within this context, we seek to promote service learning by linking students, faculty, staff and community members in community development, sustainability and well-being efforts.
Our emphases—interdisciplinary understanding and analysis, collaborative learning, cross-cultural communication, problem-solving skills, multicultural richness, and seeing the connections between global issues and personal or community action—provide our students with community-building tools that are needed and appreciated outside our walls.
Removing Barriers, Bridging Gaps
Fall, Winter and Spring quarters
Faculty: Gilda Sheppard (sociology, media literacy), Tyrus Smith (environmental studies), Artee Young Executive Director (law, literature), Paul McCreary (mathematics), Barbara Laners (law, public policy, history, journalism), Bracey Dangerfield (physiology, nutrition), Peter Bacho (law, public policy, writing, literature), Sharon Katz (psychology), Arlen Speights (computer technology, web design, multimedia), Ming Xia Li (Biology, Public Health, Bioethics, Chinese Cultural Studies, Poetry)
Major areas of study include leadership studies, urban education, scientific and mathematical inquiry, research methodology, interdisciplinary studies and media arts.
Class Standing: Juniors or seniors; transfer students welcome.
Prerequisites: Formal admission to the Tacoma program. Prospective students must attend an intake interview. For information about admission and the application process, call (253) 680-3000.
This year's program is designed to help students discover new understandings of capacity building and the various issues associated with effective leadership. We will focus on individual and community capacity building and the role that humanities, social sciences, mathematics, science, media and technological illiteracies play in informing our understanding of the world around us. A major emphasis of this program will be the examination of internal and external factors that influence one's ability to access, overcome and excel in spite of personal and institutional barriers. The expectation is that students will be able to demonstrate understanding, action and leadership in their areas of interest.
This program takes a holistic approach to capacity building and systemic change at the community level. For example, one area we will address is that of math, science and writing phobia. Communities need citizens who can advocate for their children, parents who can navigate and understand the law and care-givers and teachers who can assist our youth in understanding subject matter presented to them in the classrooms. Evergreen students who anticipate careers in education will be provided with a solid grounding in the humanities, science and math. This grounding will allow them to obtain endorsements for further studies in education and prerequisites for graduate school. Students will also have an opportunity to work with an award winning and nationally recognized after school youth program.
During fall quarter, students will study historical notions of leadership, leadership theories, leadership styles and contemporary views of leaders and followers. Students will also focus on their personal experiences and the world around them in order to understand those internal and external factors that have limited or encouraged them to achieve, to take on leadership roles and in civic engagement. During winter quarter, based upon work done in the fall, students will identify, develop, and explore models of educational leadership that have led to capacity building and systemic change. Students will enhance their knowledge of contemporary leadership theory and work actively toward the application of leadership principles through collaborative research projects.
In spring quarter, students will bridge the gap between theory and practice. To that end, they will utilize a variety of expansive methods, from writing to media, in order to demonstrate and communicate their perceptions and findings to a wider audience. Students will present their collaborative research projects publicly. The information presented will be directed toward benefiting individual and community capacity as well as communicating a wider understanding of their findings to enhance their own lives, the lives of those in their community, and the world that we all share.
Total: 16 credits each quarter.
Enrollment: 225
Internship Possibilities: In spring quarter, with program coordinator and faculty advisor approval.
Special Expenses: Approximately $50 to $100 for media, lab and/or storage supplies.
Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in community development, organizational development, law and public policy, education, social and human services, public administration, communication and media arts, environmental studies and public health.
A similar program is expected to be offered in 2011–12.