Communicating Plus

Program Overview

The Communicating Plus Program is a curricular initiative designed to ensure that Ripon College graduates will have had many opportunities to practice and develop sophisticated communication and lifelong learning skills. The Program is an area of special emphasis within the existing liberal arts curriculum. Building on the long-term success of the College’s Writing Across the Curriculum Program, it emphasizes excellence in written and oral communication. This “Communicating” thrust of the program is designed to help students learn to communicate effectively and with aplomb in a variety of life situations.

The “Plus” thrust of the Communicating Plus program supports curricular efforts to engage students in meaningful critical thinking and problem-solving activities. The Ripon College faculty believes these skills are the basis for successful lifelong learning that will enrich a wide range of work, leisure and personal endeavors.

As a curricular emphasis woven throughout the liberal arts curriculum of Ripon College, the Program is defined by a discrete set of student learning goals (see Student Learning Goals in the list at left). Academic departments and programs of study, in consultation with the Communicating Plus director, determine how best to achieve the Communicating Plus student learning goals within the structures of their majors and minors. Departmental plans ensure that each student will experience a coherent, consciously planned approach to development of the skills involved. Summaries of the departmental plans are published in each department or program’s section of the college catalog. In the advising process, faculty and students may refer to the departmental plan to build students’ awareness of their progress toward mastery of the Communicating Plus student learning goals.

The Communicating Plus Program is housed in an on-campus learning center located at 420 Thorne St. The Program provides a student peer mentoring program, study and computer facilities, opportunities for faculty development, consultation for grant development, and outreach programming.

The Communicating Plus Program enriches the culture of the Ripon College community as it supports efforts to engage students, faculty, staff and others connected to the college in lively and disciplined discussions of the major intellectual, social and ethical issues confronting citizens of the 21st century. The program is a college-wide effort to clarify the connections between liberal education, effective communication and lifelong learning for all who come into contact with the intellectual life of this community.

Location

The Communicating Plus program is based out of the Collaborative Learning Center located at 420 Thorne St. between the Johnson and Scott residence halls.

The Center is located inside a house nearly a century old owned by Ripon College. The CLC provides mentor services, small group development and many other programs to enhance student development at the college. The center is the hub of the cross curricular initiative which created the Comm Plus program. The CLC acts as a meeting place, technology lab and resource center for student needs. It provides valuable assistance for students in the areas of Oral Communication, Written Communication, Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking.

The Golden Hour

In an effort to bring the entire campus community together on a regular basis, Ripon College has reserved one class period each week (Tuesdays 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.) to serve as the Golden Hour. This Golden Hour is reserved for all-campus events such as the Opening Convocation, invited speakers and first-year presentations which might attract a broad range of attendance. No other classes or meetings may be scheduled during this time. The idea is to have an hour free from all regularly scheduled events so the college community can gather as a whole to share each event. The larger community also is invited to attend these events. The following list will be updated as events are scheduled.

To schedule an event, contact Jody Roy, Assistant Dean of Faculty.

Calendar of Events, Fall 2012

August 28
Harassment Policy (FYS required) (Ogle/Wittler)

September 4
1. Community Engagement Fair (OCE/Blumer)

2. Faculty Scholarship Series: Colleen Byron, Chemistry

September 11
Faculty Meeting

September 18
Matriculation Convocation (FYS required)

Sept. 25
Open

October 2
McNair Scholars Research – (Spanbauer)

October 9
Faculty Meeting

October 23
Major Fest (Tom Vaubel)

October 30
Faculty Scholarship Series – Joe Scanlon

November 6
RCRE – (Bemus/Kovack-Lesh)

November 13
Faculty Meeting

November 20
Off-Campus Program Panel (Blake, M. Wittler)

November 27
ELP Grant Reports (Blumer)

December 4
FYS Celebration (Blake)

Calendar of Events, Spring 2013

January 15
Open

January 22
MLK Brunch

January 29
Founders’ Day Ceremony (Dean of Faculty)

February 5
Faculty Meeting

February 12
Faculty Scholarship Series: Geoff Guevara-Geer, Spanish Sabbatical Leave Presentation

February 19
Off Campus Programs

February 26
Faculty Scholarship Series: Bob Amsden, Art Sabbatical Leave Presentation

March 5
Faculty Meeting

March 19
Open

March 26
Lindsay Blumer The Ethical Leadership Program

April 2
Faculty Meeting

April 9
Faculty Scholarship Series. Jeanne Williams, Education Sabbatical Leave Presentation

April 16
Psi Chi and Tri-Beta Research Symposium (Khan and Petersik)

April 25
Faculty Scholarship Series. Bob Wallace, Biology Sabbatical Leave Presentation

April 30
Faculty Meeting