Cultivating Capstones helps us rethink the culmination of the degree, not as the pinnacle of a cloistered baccalaureate experience, but instead invigorated by external connections on all sides. Increasingly our students situate us amid multiple, competing responsibilities. In turn, educators need the tools presented here to cultivate feedback and agency, partnerships across institutions and communities, civic engagement and scaffolded independent research. In case studies and interviews, the authors make a powerful case for synthesizing learning from the whole degree in ways that respect and leverage the broader ecosystem of our students complicated lives.
Ken ODonnell, Vice Provost, California State University Dominguez Hills, and Editor-in-Chief of Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
"We know from powerful research like the Gallup Purdue Index that completing a project that lasts a semester or more is transformational to not only students immediate college experience but also to their future selves. That said, simply calling something a capstone does not make it so. This volume fills an important gap at the nexus of research and practice on this high-impact educational practice, and should be required reading for all those interested in designing and delivering a truly vibrant and impactful capstone experience."
Kate Drezek McConnell, Vice President, Curricular & Pedagogical Innovation and Executive Director, VALUE, American Association of Colleges & Universities
Whether youre new to capstone experiences, a seasoned capstone course instructor, or somewhere in between, youll find in this book vivid and varied examples of capstone models and practical guidance for supporting faculty and staff, so that students can reap the benefits of this high-impact practice. Given that capstone experiences embody the integration and application of learning, and can serve as much-needed bridges from college to career, I recommend it to all higher education leaders committed to truly serving students and ensuring their long-term success.
Isis Artze-Vega, College Provost & Vice President, Academic Affairs, Valencia College
