The NEXUS Program: A New Model for Interdisciplinary Honors Education - HERU 2019 Conference

The NEXUS Program: A New Model for
  Interdisciplinary Honors Education
                                                     Matt Bribitzer-Stull, Director
                                        Kristin Farrell, Senior Academic Advisor
                    Ian Ringgenberg, Academic Advisor and NEXUS Coordinator

The University Honors Program, a division of the Office of Undergraduate Education, University of Minnesota
 May 23, 2019. Honors Education at Research Universities Conference. University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

What is the NEXUS Program?
• Ideas are at the center of the Honors experience.
• The NEXUS program is a locus for interdisciplinary
  contact.
• NEXUS experiences are non-graded, not-for-credit
  opportunities for faculty and students to interact
  around a shared challenge, topic, thought experience,
  project, and/or activity.

NEXUS Experiences 2016–2019
•   Experiences Inspired by Performances at Northrop   •   CEHD Honors Advisory Team
     – Dracula in Multimedia                           •   Foresight Workshop
     – Romeo and Juliet                                •   Transformative Conversations
     – Anna Karenina                                   •   Laboratory Research Sampler
•   Lecture Series                                     •   Caring for the River at Your Doorstep
     – Six Women, Six Topics, Six Perspectives         •   Cultural Experience Portfolio
     – The Successes and Failures of North American    •   ACARA Honors Change-Makers
        Higher Education                               •   Developing Yourself Through Competitive Scholarships
     – 1968/69–2018/19: Historic Upheavals, Enduring   •   Applied Reality: What Impact Will You Have?
        Aftershocks                                    •   Philosophy, Conceptual Art, and LEGOs
•   Experiences in the Archives                        •   Tabletop Games: Don’t Settle for Catan!
     – Archives and Social Justice                     •   Honorary Degrees: Strengthening Advocacy and
     – Immigration History Center and Oral Histories       Tradition in Higher Education
•   New York Times                                     •   NEXUS One
•   Contract Bridge

The Origins of the NEXUS Program
•   Honors requirements overview
•   UHP’s location in Northrop Memorial Auditorium
•   Dracula in Multimedia—the first NEXUS experience
•   The need for a name and the NEXUS acronym

Some Example Programs:
                Tabletop Games
• Five faculty participants contributed background on a number of topics:

• Mathematics: Markov Processes, Probability, and Expected Value
• Economics: Game Theory
• Computer Science and Psychology: Artificial Intelligence and Theory
  of Mind
• Educational Psychology: Learning and Social Interaction
• Graphic Design: Visual Information-Communication Strategies

Games NEXUS: Mathematics

Games NEXUS: Economics

Games NEXUS:
Psychology and Computer Science

Games NEXUS: Educational Psychology

Games NEXUS: Graphic Design

Some Example Programs:
           Transformative Conversations
• Networking as a natural need for students
• Students lack confidence and knowledge about how to do this
• Large amount of staff and faculty expertise that doesn't always get shared directly
  in class
• Students have used this experience with people who can support them as a way
  to explore major, career trajectory, and questions of future that aren't answered
  elsewhere
• Anthropologist-ethnographic field notes, power mapping, imaginary interviews,
  group brainstorming and discussion, shared experiences
• Students find internships, important academic connections, and professional
  mentors

Some Example Programs:
         Cultural Experience Portfolio
• Connect students with cultural resources of Twin
  Cities
• Use faculty and staff talks to increase comfort, literacy,
  and independence in cultural media
• Use reflective journaling model as a platform for
  creative expression

Cat Clements
● Jillia Pessenda
     ○ Political Director of Women Winning
                                                                         Friends and
        ■ She is now my direct supervisor!                                Friends of
● Clare Verbeten                                                           Friends

     ○ Former DFL Party Affairs Director, Deputy Field Director
         for Walz, Current Deputy Political Director for a
         Carpenter Union                                           Connections
●   Halla Henderson                                                from previous
                                                                   jobs
     ○ DFL Campus Organizer, Mental Health Advocate
●   Mohammed Amin Kahin
     ○ Local activist, has media company
●   Doua Yang
     ○ Campaign Manager for Mitra Nelson                          McCollum Office
           ■ Got another potential job from this meeting!          Open House

●   Carly Johnson
     ○ Councilwoman for OPH, former Deputy Finance
         Director for Betty McCollum

● Know WHY you’re doing the
              work
            ● Be smart about- but not
              ashamed of- your identity
            ● Leverage your age
            ● Connect about ISSUES
            ● Your voice deserves to be
Takeaways     heard!
               ○ RUN. FOR. OFFICE.
            ● Keep in touch- this got me
   Cat        another job
               ○ Also: make a networking
                  spreadsheet!
            ● “Any thoughts on what I should
              pursue for this summer?”

Jessica Jurcek - Interviews
● Sherry Shifflet, Swirlwind Media, former agriculture journalist
● Anders Guerra, freelance journalist
● Jill Krueger, Network for Public Health, background in agricultural
  law
● Dr. Rebecca Swenson, Agricultural Education and Communication
● Emily Nachtigal, lobbyist
● Whitney Place, Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture for MN Dept.
  of Ag.

Jessica Jurcek - Interview Takeaways
● Future is bright for careers in sustainability!
● Agricultural law/policy instead of agricultural journalism (maybe)
    ○Lobbying
   ○ Nonprofit policy advocacy
   ○ Private practice
   ○ Public office
● LOTS of questions about next steps in my education
   ○ Work first?
   ○ Law school?
   ○ Master’s degree in public policy/rural issues?
   ○ Abroad? In the US?

Cultural Experience Portfolio
• 8 experiences from 5   • 4 faculty/staff talks
  categories             • 10 comments on other
  – Dance                  students’ posts
  – Live Music
  – Theatre
  – Lecture/Exhibit
  – Visual Arts

Student Reactions to
                            NEXUS Experiences
•   "This program has allowed me to explore topics that I would not otherwise have time to pursue. This has
    opened my eyes to new disciplines, and allows me to see my own concentration in a new light."

•   "Honors NEXUS Experiences give students the opportunity to connect with other Honors students from a
    variety of majors. This also allows students to experience hands-on learning and discussions which expand
    their knowledge and deepen their understanding of other ideas and perspectives.”

•   "NEXUS Experiences give students the opportunity to integrate material or skills learned in classes in a highly
    intellectual context, as well as the chance to engage with like-minded peers who have unique perspectives to
    bring to the discussion."

•   "NEXUS experiences are a way for Honors students to broaden their learning outside the classroom
    environment. I loved being in the Honors Lecture Series and learning new things every time I went."

Student Testimonial

Funding the NEXUS Program
• Stipends for faculty participating ranging from $100—
  $1,000
• Many faculty, staff, and community members
  participate gratis
• Materials, transportation, tickets, food, etc. covered by
  UHP
• Total cost per year now running about $30,000

Developing NEXUS Experiences
• The NEXUS Committee
• Conversations with faculty, staff, and community
  stakeholders
• Seizing opportunities and potential partnerships
  (Northrop Lecture Series)
• What doesn't work well in a semester-long class is
  often a good candidate for a NEXUS experience

Staffing the NEXUS Program
•   NEXUS Coordinator position
•   Director’s responsibilities
•   Committee member responsibilities
•   Faculty, staff, and community member responsibilities

Advertising and Populating
          the NEXUS Experiences
• Website
• Sign-up email invitations twice a year
• Word of mouth from advisors, peers, and Honors
  mentors

NEXUS One
•   Description                                              • The history of the research university and
    – Cohort based                                             the University of Minnesota, in particular
    – 12 meetings per year                                   • Research practices, resources, and ethics
    – Groups assembled based on diversity of                 • Stress-management techniques
      colleges and shared avocational interest               • Risk-taking, failure, and resiliency
                                                             • Global challenges of the 21st century
•   Rationale                                        •   What we learned from the pilot program
    – Small-group setting to facilitate support
                                                         – Faculty or upper-class leadership essential
      network
                                                         – Follow the model of other NEXUS experiences
    – Promoting cross-disciplinary communication
                                                           by making it fun
      and collaboration
                                                         – Constrain meetings to one semester
    – Topics all Honors students should know about
                                                         – Minimize “homework”
        • Identity, values, and goal-setting

The Future of the NEXUS Program
• Plans to offer around 15 experiences a year
• Many experiences will be repeated (and updated) from year to
  year, while others will cycle in and out
   – The Great Gatsby
   – Cities and Urban Communities: Data, Organizing, and Equity
• NEXUS One will be an integral part of the program each fall for
  first-year students
• A large percentage of the UHP staff will be directly involved with
  the NEXUS program