Wheaton emphasizes learning outside the classroom, including internships and service. Evaluation is intrinsic to campus activities. Currently, Wheaton is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of out-of-class learning and the documentation of it. Civic responsibility is embedded in the program and in the evaluation of the program.

Wheaton undertakes a variety of approaches to assess the effect of out-of-class learning on students and alumnae/i and how it is implemented within the college. For instance, we hold focus groups, conduct semi-structured interviews, and gather documentation. Results of these qualitative approaches are complemented by quantitative data from responses to published and Wheaton-developed surveys. Civic responsibility is one of many variables addressed in our evaluation. Interim results yielded findings such as alumnae/i remarking that they think Wheaton graduates are more interested in going out to make positive changes in people s lives, to make a difference, to be of public service than to make money, and published survey results showing modest, but statistically significant increases (from freshmen to senior year) in students ratings of the importance of participating in community action.

Web site: Filene Center for Work and Learning: http://www.wheatoncollege.edu/Filene/students/