Method

In collaboration with Gonzaga University's Unity House Cultural Education Center and other community resources, ACE students are actively involved in cultural educational event planning and learning. For example, a student might organize an event that revolves around cultural dance, song, storytelling, drama, a film, a book, a guest speaker with a reflective discussion afterwards, sports, food, diverse forms of prayer, or music.

Academic Component--ACE students meet in skill development seminars. Students must take all seminar courses listed in the University Course Catalog designed and designated specifically for this program. Courses are designated ACE: UNIV (See course listing and description below under Program Course Design). All classes are open enrollment. Classes meet once per week for the entire academic year. Each class is designed using a traditional academic format with each course building on the last. Each course has required text and supplement reading materials.

Program Course Design

Length of time in operation--2000-2001 was the first full year of ACE under this current design. The program is designed for only a select number (6-10) of students. AHANA students must apply or be selected because of their proven work in leadership. They must complete an application and pass a committee style interview prior to being accepted into the program. The program is a two-year commitment.

Number of persons served/involved—Typically there are a total of ten scholars per year. The academic part of the program takes two full years to complete. During that time field experience is combined with academic skill development seminars. This combination of experiences achieves the best of both learning worlds.

Outcomes--All Course content and field experiences are designed to assist the student in becoming a knowledgeable leader in all aspects of diversity education. Expected outcomes include: increasing the number of students from eight to fifty per academic year, increasing the scholarship award from $2,500 to $5,000 per academic year, establishing the ACE Project as a four-year development program with a new cohort group of fifty AHANA students each Fall semester, and prepare 200 AHANA students who will graduate in four years with degrees in diverse academic disciplines and who work in a variety of professional fields.

ACE is designed to be replicated. It is designed first and foremost to enhance the quality of the educational experience of all students attending Jesuit Institutions by improving the quantity and the quality of educational opportunities for students aspire to lead. It is designed to promote the institutionalization of participation by underrepresented racial and ethnic groups by placing them in leadership positions that lead to awareness, planning, policy formation, education and policy implementation.

The responsibility for this program rest with the Director of Multicultural Education/Director of Unity House Cultural Education Center. It is funded by institutional monies through the Office of the Associate Vice President for Diversity. Prior to the creation of that office, the program was funded out the Office of the Academic Vice President.