The Teacher-Scholar-Citizen Model from Principle to Practice

Teacher-Scholar (TS) models articulate how the fundamental roles of faculty in higher educational institutions are defined, valued, and balanced. Here we propose a Teacher-Scholar-Citizen (TSC) model as a better fit for the geosciences as currently practiced at many universities. This poster will review and provide examples of TS and TSC models and explore several facets of implementing a TSC model at the individual, department, and institutional levels. Writing a TSC model helps department faculty discuss common goals and set standards for achievement; TSC models also can be contentious and exclusive rather than inclusive. There are many ways to engage students in education for their roles as citizens, including service-learning. We will share examples of how these experiences can be assessed and embedded within program student learning outcomes. TSC models can be a good way to demonstrate alignment of a department with the mission and standards of a university and of professional societies. A TSC model can be used to help administrators and faculty on tenure-promotion committees understand the value of non-traditional activities. We also will present our experience with the many challenges that arise when implementing a TSC model. We hope to encourage group discussion at the poster and informally beyond the poster, so that participants can discuss issues that most concern them, share strategies for success, and/or consider roles that TSC models could play in the geoscience community as a whole.