ASPEC coaches with winning Ethics Bowl Students

One of the founding principles of ASPEC is that the education of college students can be enriched by significant interactions between the students and more senior professionals, who have made important contributions to their professions and who have lived lives of leadership and service in communities around the world. During the past 25 years, ASPEC members and Eckerd College faculty, students, and staff have worked together to develop programs and opportunities for intergenerational learning. At one point, ASPEC’s distinctive programs were a primary reason why Eckerd College was recognized by US News and World Report as one of the most innovative colleges in the country.

This page has been created to help orient Eckerd College students and faculty to the variety of ways that ASPEC members can contribute to the learning process.

Opportunities

Mentoring: Developing a nurturing relationship with a student that can involve guidance, enrichment and encouragement about career, educational and personal issues. These activities supplement the outstanding mentoring work done by the College faculty. The current ASPEC African American Student Support Program and the projected ASPEC Scholars Mentorship Program are examples of this sort of involvement that encourages both one-on-one ASPEC member/student interaction and training/evaluation programs for mentors.

Tutoring: Assisting a student to understand a subject matter and/or develop a certain skill. Examples of these efforts include: (1) helping students understand class material in the sciences and math; and (2) assisting students develop writing and foreign language skills (both competencies required for graduation from Eckerd). Referrals for assistance have come from individual faculty and from the College Writing Center. Tutoring programs have been available for students in the residential program and in the PEL Program for continuing education.

Serving as Discussant Colleagues: Participating throughout a 14 week semester course at the invitation of a faculty member in ways that enhance the learning process for the students and faculty member. ASPEC members are expected to read the materials covered in the class and be prepared for some classroom participation as planned by the faculty member. Most discussant colleagues have participated in classes that are part of the College’s freshman (Western Heritage in a Global Context) and senior (Quest for Meaning) general education required courses. ASPEC participants have enjoyed the opportunity to continue their liberal arts educations, and the students and faculty have been stimulated by the insights of those with different experiences and perspectives.

Serving as Resource Colleagues: Participating in a college course in one or more class sessions at the invitation of a faculty member to provide specialized knowledge, address a defined topic, or share relevant experiences that would enrich and enhance the course. Examples of this activity have included a retired CEO sharing with a management class, a retired chemist assisting with laboratory experiments, a retired diplomat discussing a particular issue in an international relations class. Given the rich variety of experiences and accomplishments within ASPEC, an almost unlimited array of resource colleague opportunities and “pairings” could be developed.

Serving as Coaches for Educational Teams: Participating on a regular basis to help prepare a student group for success in a local, regional, or national competition. Examples of this type of activity include the Ethics Bowl and the Students In Free Enterprise. Similar collaborations might involve the Model United Nations, the Society for the Advancement of Management, and work with students preparing for major scholarship competitions such as the Rhodes or Fulbright.

Assisting with Career Guidance: Working with College faculty and staff to help students explore and evaluate career options, and to assist students develop interview, resume writing, and other skills. An expanded, more frequent, and more intensive “Been There! Done That!” is an example of this kind of activity. There is also considerable potential for retired medical doctors advising pre-med students, retired lawyers advising pre-law students, retired diplomats advising international relations students, and more.

Joining Service Learning Projects: Participating with students and faculty in cooperative service projects in the Tampa Bay area. Examples of these efforts include activities directed toward the homeless, kids at risk in local public schools, and environmental clean-up projects.

Advising Student Clubs or Groups: Every student club or group that is chartered by the Eckerd College Organization of Students (ECOS) is expected to have a faculty advisor. With over 80 chartered clubs, it is not easy to find faculty with the time and/or interest to step in. ASPEC members can provide an additional resource. In the past, ASPEC members have been advisors, supporters, cheerleaders for groups as diverse as the student newspaper, the lacrosse team, and the multi-cultural dance team.

Facilitating Collaborative Student-Faculty Projects: In the past, SunTrust Bank has provided annual funding for a small grants project. Faculty-student groups would collaborate to develop proposals that would include some involvement by ASPEC members. The most promising proposals would be selected by the ASPEC-Faculty Liaison Committee for funding. An annual dinner has been held in Lewis House at the end of the academic year to celebrate the learning and achievements accomplished by these collaborative projects.

For more information about these grants and to submit a proposal for an 08-09 ASPEC - Faculty Learning Grant, please visit the 08-09 ASPEC - Faculty Learning Grants page.

Auditing Classes: ASPEC members may register to attend (audit) a regular College class on a space available basis with the permission of the instructor. These classes could introduce an ASPEC member to a new subject, or provide an opportunity to continue exploring a field at a more advanced level. Auditors would be expected to do the reading for the course, but would not be required to write papers or take examinations. Auditing might involve a 14-week semester course or a 4-week Winter Term project (January). There is no charge for auditing a class, and no college credit is earned. Forms for auditing are available in the College’s Admissions and Human Resources Office on the first floor of Franklin Templeton Building. The application process must be completed 30 days prior to the beginning of the term/semester.

Facilitating Interaction and Learning at Lewis House: ASPEC members can encourage intergenerational contact by inviting College faculty, staff and students to participate in events and activities at Lewis House. Examples of these efforts include presentations at ASPEC Forums, reports to the Assembly, and participation in ASPEC interest groups.

For more information about any of these intergenerational learning opportunities and/or to provide suggestions for new programs, please contact the Intergenerational Learning Leadership Group through its e-mail alias at:

ASPEC Intergenerational Learning Committee List: aspec-igl@eckerd.edu

Requests for information may also be directed to the following members of the Leadership Group:

Stan Chesnut: chesnujs@eckerd.edu.
Stan has retired from the Religious Studies of Eckerd College, and is a member of the ASPEC Senate.

Dick Hallin: hallinrr@eckerd.edu.
Dick has retired from the position of Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Eckerd College, chaired the Task Force on Intergenerational Learning, and is a member of ASPEC

Jane McBride: mcbridje@eckerd.edu.
Jane has served as Interim Director of ASPEC and is a participant in a multitude of intergenerational learning projects.

John Reppert: reppertjc@aol.com.
John is Chairman of the ASPEC Student Liaison Committee.

Fred Sabota: sabotafr@eckerd.edu.
Fred is the Assistant Dean of Students with responsibilities for student orientation and ECOS.

Morris Shapero: shaperma@eckerd.edu.
Morris is an Assistant Professor of International Business and Chair of the ASPEC Faculty Liaison Committee.