Public Affairs
The United States of America, a pluralist gathering of races and cultures, banded together not by blood or religion, by territory or tradition, but by a political idea, is a nation formed by its dedication to a set of civic principles. These principles embedded in our fundamental national documents make it clear that American citizens are expected to fulfill civic responsibilities by competent participation in public affairs. Public affairs is one of the university's five mission themes.
A leading American political thinker and statesman, Thomas Jefferson, contended that the status of "citizen" called for every member of the community to become involved in the business of society. The university has a special responsibility to educate students about social goals, public purposes, and the ethics of citizenship as well as to encourage students to have a personal sense of responsibility for the global society. Helping students to become responsible citizens takes time and deliberate effort on the part of all educators.
Public affairs in higher education is not restricted to politics or the social sciences. It is the realm of all of life that requires knowledge, participation, civic skills, and the willingness to work for the common good. Public affairs involves educating persons to become responsible citizens and leaders. The university should define what a responsible citizen should be able to do and how the entire experience of higher education develops those abilities.
Education in public affairs should be a recognizable, achievable, and measurable goal. Public affairs, while not a curriculum, must be present and expressed through all the disciplines. For example, scientific research dealing with the environment, health, and other issues clearly holds important implications for public policy and public affairs.
In order to educate for public life, the university must foster a community where all individuals are called upon to act and to respond to public affairs issues and to develop a sense of public spiritedness as well as an understanding of multi-cultural concerns. Students must be exposed to a common core of knowledge through the general education program in order to promote the general welfare of community, state, and nation. This common core should impart historical and comparative perspectives on public affairs -- e.g., problems of order, justice, liberty, equality, stability, and avoidance of civil and international strife. Being exposed to these issues in public affairs will help develop the student's capacity to analyze and resolve contemporary problems in the nation and in the international community.
Public affairs education should take place not only in the public space of the classroom but also outside the academy. Internships, practicums, cooperative projects, government service, volunteer programs, and residential life programs which stimulate the development of leaders all contribute to inculcating in students a sense of individual and community responsibility. Community outreach programs through public affairs research centers, adult continuing education, distance learning courses, public broadcasting, and telecommunication linkages with other metropolitan universities will utilize faculty expertise and skills to address state and community problems. The challenge presented by a focus on public affairs, however, is not just about what kind of curriculum, community service or public forums should be in place. It is about discovering solutions to the problems that we face as members of a democratic society in a world we all share.
- Virtually every academic department on campus currently provides students with an opportunity for an internship or practicum. In some cases internships are required for a degree.
- The Southwest Missouri State University/Southwestern Bell Telephone Literacy Center has successfully established several coalitions and conducts a number of worthwhile programs and projects e.g., literacy programs, Storefront School, Project Access, Founder's Park, the Discovery Center, "Into the Streets," and the Campus Outreach Opportunity League.
- The university is committed to community service and outreach through a number of specialized centers, including the Center for Archaeological Research, the Center for Social Research, the Center for Ozarks Studies, the Center for Economic Research, the Center for Business and Economic Development, the Center for Industrial Productivity, the Center for Resource Planning and Management, the Center for Scientific Research and Service, the Center for Assessment and Instructional Support, the Center for Gerontological Studies, the Center for Research and Service, and the State Fruit Experiment Station.
- The Office of Continuing Education operates an Evening College and provides adult student services to both traditional and non-traditional students. In addition, it offers several credit and noncredit courses through a media-based instruction program. The general public is offered a wide range of noncredit learning opportunities in the noncredit and conference program and through off-campus and special credit programs. The SMSU Center for Economic Education is one of several special public service and community education projects carried out under the auspices of the Office of Continuing Education.
- In the sciences, established faculty research programs explore environmental issues facing the public and contribute to understanding of these issues from local to global scales.
- In telecommunications, SMSU offers telecable courses in a number of disciplines, including economics, history, political science, consumer and family studies, communications, Spanish, and theatre. The university is also preparing for distance learning through telecommunications linkages with schools throughout the region.
- The campus radio station, KSMU, provides extensive public affairs, news, news analysis, and information programs from the community and National Public Radio via a four-station network covering southwest Missouri. KSMU also provides cultural programming which would not otherwise be heard in the region.
- The Missouri Legislative Internship allows students from various academic disciplines the opportunity to see government at work by assisting a legislator or state administrator. This program is sponsored each spring in Jefferson City when the Missouri General Assembly is in session.
- SMSU also offers a variety of regular public affairs and information programs via telecable. These programs feature faculty, staff and students discussing issues and events of importance to SMSU, Springfield, the region, and the state.