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Project Ampersand

JESSE WRIGHT| MASS COMM 302

EMORY, Va Earlier this month Dirk Moore


held a press conference concerning changing liberal arts
and Emory & Henrys new program Project Ampersand.
They seem to go hand in hand as liberal arts are facing
enrollment issues and Project Ampersand is seen as a
way to attract new students. The new project is
anticipated to push students to their full potential and
give them something tangible to take from their
education. It has some kinks to work out, but is on the fast track to success with faculty
and student support.
Project Ampersand is essentially a way to recognize and promote the work done
by students, outside of the classroom, in a pursuit or a greater goal. Whether that be
service, problem solving, or even entrepreneurship it is a way for the student to get
hands on and really apply their education in more ways than just test and papers. It is
based on innovation, says Moore, It is based on the idea that students will come here
and look at a problem they want to solve and look at innovative and creative ways to do
that. The project came to be after President Schrump spearheaded the idea and
formed a committee to get the project up and running. It seemed to be a great success
with the committee members, made up of faculty, students, alumni, and Board of
Trustee members, and is now in its final stages of production.
Once the project to fully announce the school plans to provide exceptional
support to students looking to further themselves. President Schrump and the
committee are already in the process of getting funding from private donors to help fund
students projects and advertising it to prospective students. According to Moore, Emory
is hoping to have upwards of 60% of students be involved in the project once it is
implemented. Moore says they are expecting students to take initiative in their work a
student seeing a problem and using his or her educational experience to approach a
solution. They are not making it a requirement though. It is important that students
have their own personal elements to it and they dont feel like they are compelled to
come up with something. says Moore.
So far the only concern is from faculty who are nervous about the added work.
They are already very busy and they want to make sure they dont have to jump into
this too fast, but they are supportive of it and want to help ease the school into the new
program, says Moore. This is where Dr. Lauder comes in as the head faculty member
for the project. Where she is in charge of helping other professors transition into this
new program and the additional work. She will be assisting in facultys involvement in
the student's project such as finding them a service site or helping draft a business plan.
Although they dont have an official release date Moore said they hope to have
something ready by the spring or next semester.

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