Bringing Theory to Practice project headed to SU, other campuses

Several courses within the Falk College will benefit from a Bringing Theory to Practice grant aimed at studying the psychological and social well-being of college students. The Bringing Theory to Practice Project (BTtoP) awarded more than $700,000, including campus matching grants, to the colleges to address two key questions: How does learning on college campuses support the psychosocial development of students, and how and why does intentional commitment to the well-being of all students positively affect their learning and civic involvement?

Among the courses to be evaluated and studied are two courses offered through Falk College: SPM 101—Personal and Social Responsibility taught by associate professor of sport management, Jeff Pauline and HTW 405/HTW 605—Cognitive Behavioral Approaches to Stress Reduction, taught by assistant professor of public health, Dessa Bergen-Cico. Additionally, SOC/WGS/CFE 230—Intergroup Dialogue, which focuses on women’s issues, race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, taught by Gretchen Lopez from the School of Education, is included in the project.

Syracuse University was one of 28 schools awarded funds to study and evaluate courses that have civic engagement and specific engaged learning practices in their curricula that add to the overall well-being of students.

The BTtoP campus projects began early this year and will continue through June 2015. Bringing Theory to Practice is an independent project sponsored by the Charles Engelhard Foundation of New York City and the S. Engelhard Center and developed in partnership with the Association of American Colleges and Universities. The State University of New York at Cortland, State University of New York at Geneseo and Wagner College also are part of the project.