Engaged Learning in Courses

Client-Based Engaged Learning in Courses

Faculty-ELO Staff Collaborations for Client Engagement

The Engaged Learning Office (ELO) collaborates with faculty in various ways:

• Curricular Enhancement:

  • Provide additional training or perspectives in client engagement, project management, and teamwork through workshops, course exercises, or active learning experiences.

  • Utilize thousands of industry and public sector contacts to match approximately 250 projects sourced from external organizations to 25 courses and programs annually.

• Consultation and Collaboration:

  • Assist faculty in incorporating real-world projects and problem statements in their courses.

  • Help in recruiting local and global partners or clients.

  • Develop projects for students to engage in on a short-term or full-class basis.

  • Prepare faculty to teach students through interactions with external clients and community-based partners, drawing on fifteen years of experience and best practices at the University and in high-impact education.

Process for Engaging Clients in Courses or Programs

1. Initial Contact: Email the Associate Director, External Engagement in late spring for Fall courses or early fall for Winter and Spring courses to express interest in setting up a workshop and/or having clients as part of the curriculum.

2. Preparation (Two to Four Months Before Course):

   • Work with the ELO to understand client and project needs.

   • Recruit projects based on the course’s learning objectives and other requirements.

3. Project Refinement:

   • Collaboratively refine and scope projects.

   • Communicate with clients to prepare them for the class.

4. Course Period:

   • ELO staff assist in resolving issues and provide evaluations of the faculty, students, and clients' experiences.

5. Post-Course:

   • ELO sends client and student evaluations and reviews them with faculty.

Timeline for Client Engagement in UMSI Courses

Fall or Year-long (Capstone) Courses:

• May-August: ELO staff recruit client projects through various outreach methods.

• May: Faculty provide course information via a short form and a one-hour Zoom meeting with ELO staff.

• June: Share client recruitment information with networks.

• July-August: Weekly meetings with ELO team to review potential projects.

• August: Confirm final project list and communicate with clients. Optional webinar for clients.

• September-October: Confirm projects selected by student teams and provide a roster of students per project.

• December: Encourage student evaluations of client projects.

• January: Share evaluation results with faculty.

Winter and Spring/Summer Courses:

• August-December: ELO staff recruit client projects through various outreach methods.

• May (Preferred) or September: Faculty provide course information via a short form and a one-hour Zoom meeting with ELO staff.

• September: Share client recruitment information with networks.

• October-Mid December: Weekly meetings with ELO team to review potential projects.

• December: Confirm final project list and communicate with clients. Optional webinar for clients.

• January-February: Confirm projects selected by student teams and provide a roster of students per project.

• April: Encourage student evaluations of client projects.

• May: Share evaluation results with faculty.

Timeline assumes a full-semester project. For half-term or full-year projects, timing may shift accordingly.

Exposition

Held annually, the UMSI Student Project Exposition represents the culmination of projects completed by students through capstone and client-based courses, community-based programs, and independent endeavors. This event occurs annually at the end of the winter term on the U-M Campus.  Visit the UMSI Exposition website to learn the date of the upcoming event.

Faculty are encouraged to share information with their students so that they can participate in the Exposition. Students will also receive emails from the Engaged Learning Office at the end of each term with information on how to participate in the Exposition. Faculty can request ELO staff to join their class to talk about the Exposition and/or prepare them to participate in It. The ELO offers workshops to students to help them design their posters and prepare their pitches for interaction with industry and community professionals, and judges. 

A panel of UMSI alumni and industry experts, representing leading organizations including Zillow, Adobe, Trinity Health, and the U-M Water Center, serves as judges. Top projects will earn awards in thematic and course-specific categories, with funding provided by the estate of Gerald P. Miller (AMLS ’86, PhD ’95) and the UMSI Miller Scholars Fund, in addition to the UMSI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund. Exposition text to include in your syllabus.

Contact Information:

• ELO email: umsi.engagement@umich.edu

• External Engagement Associate Director: Lori Donovan (lorimd@umich.edu_

• ELO staff and lecturer listing