Hello fellow Clarkies!
As the semester winds down to the last sprint of finals, many Clarke students have received emails about Compass. Awareness of Compass and its requirements are especially important as you begin to consider what classes you will be taking next semester, and perhaps the one after that. As a student myself, I am also trying to figure out the best, and the easiest, way to earn all these credits to graduate. I have gone through the Source, my program evaluation, talked with teachers, and talked with Kara down in Compass to find the most efficient way to earn these requirements. Whether you need to fulfill more extracurricular credits, take more classes, or do both (like me), this guide will hopefully help you plan out what exactly is your best course of action. If you have any questions regarding Compass and its requirements, please don’t be afraid to direct them to Kara Schroeder, the Compass Experience Coordinator!
First and foremost, it’s important to know that Compass is broken up into three separate sub-requirements: Integrative Inquiry, Global Awareness and Social Responsibility, and Professional Preparedness (which you don’t really need to worry about because it is usually awarded upon the completion of your major courses).
INTEGRATIVE INQUIRY
This category only requires you to fulfill one integrative inquiry course before you graduate. In your myInfo account where you search for classes, there is a specific classification for Integrative Inquiry. So, instead of searching for courses in the English category, you can search for courses that will count towards Integrative Inquiry.
Here are a couple of classes that you can take that fulfill this requirement for next year. However, always make sure that it is still being offered and that the time works for your schedule.
Classes:
Fall 2019:
(1218) Topics: Sport & History in the United States
(1361) Topics: Sport & History in the United States
(0313) Topics: Persuasion
(1392) Topics: Death and Dying
(0837) Christianity & American Culture
Spring 2020:
(1187) App, Ethics: Law, Justice, & Good
(1206) Science and Religion
(1207) Science and Religion
GLOBAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (GASR)
This category is more complicated. In addition to completing a diversity credit, you also need to fulfill 30 hours of pre-approved activities.
30 hours of pre-approved activities can seem like something simple and easy you could achieve in a semester, but it can be a daunting task. While there are many opportunities in the Dubuque community, it can be difficult to find activities that count. For example, just last week, the Clarke Drag show counted for two hours of GASR. If you were starting at the full 30 hours, this will put a dent in it, leaving behind 28 hours. You can’t just attend the activities, however. You must also write up a reflection of the activity.
Reflection:
Write about 3 of the 5 competencies (a paragraph each)
(Not “It was weird because we are so different.” Think more critically)
Cultural Self-awareness:
Is aware of own cultural rules and biases and recognizes multiple perspectives
Knowledge of Cultural world frameworks:
Understands the complexity of elements important to members of another culture in relation to its relation to its history, values, politics, communication styles, economy, or beliefs and practices.
Openness to difference:
Is open to interactions with culturally different others, is aware of own judgements, and indicates a willingness to understand
Personal and social responsibility:
Recognizes the feelings of others and acts in a supportive manner that is that is driven by social and moral decisions
Engagement in concrete efforts to: develop solidarity, meet human needs, or further justice, peace, or the common good:
Participate in civic engagement opportunities
Activities:
It is important that you are interacting with people that are culturally different and have had different experiences. Also, a tip: if you do activities that take more time, or are long term volunteer work, you can write fewer reflections overall. Some of the activities that can fulfill these are:
Clarke Inclusive Games
Clarke Dance Marathon
Dubuque Rescue Mission
Presentation Lantern Center
Hills and Dales Volunteering
Area Residential Care
There is also a detailed list in an email sent out by Compass about opportunities for experience hours. If you’ve already deleted it, just reach out to Kara Schroeder.
Classes:
Here are a couple of classes that you can take which fulfill the requirements for next year. In planning your schedule, always make sure that the course is still being offered and that the time works for your schedule.
Fall 2019:
(0982) Community Health Care
(0984) Community Health Care Lab
(0985) Community Health Care Lab
(0986) Community Health Care Lab
(0338) Multicultural Faces of Jesus
(0620) Elementary Spanish I
(0621) Spanish Conversation, Composition and Grammar
(0781) Intro to Social Welfare & Social Work
Spring 2020:
(1002) Transcultural Health Care
(1003) Transcultural Health Care Lab
(1024) Community Health Care Lab
It is better to get these out of the way so that you’re not stressing about fulfilling them. Worst case scenario is that you run out of time and therefore activities available for you. Not completing these compass requirements results in you not being allowed to graduate, so juniors, take note! You have one year to get all of this done. If you do nothing over break, that is only 16 weekends each semester, 32 days per semester. College flies by quick.
If you have remaining questions regarding Compass and it’s requirements, just reach out to Kara Schroeder at kara.schroeder@clarke.edu!
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by Charlotte Rodewald