Mellon Expansion Fellows Visit SIUE CODES Program
This semester, eight faculty, chosen through a competitive process, visited SIUE from other colleges and universities to learn about the Community-Oriented Digital Engagement Scholars Program (CODES). CODES is an award-winning program at SIUE in which students collaborate with community partners from the moment they arrive on campus to address the world’s most pressing problems and share their work using digital platforms.
Funded by a Mellon Grant awarded to the CODES Program in 2024, expansion fellows visited from Grambling State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN. From Sept. 27-30, the fellows learned about the history of the program, talked to CODES partner Stephanie Schrage at the Wedge Innovation Center, heard from students about their projects and experiences, and were able to benefit from discussions with several CODES faculty.
The fellows have been meeting with CODES Program Director Jessica DeSpain, PhD, since June and will continue discussions through this school year to envision how they can adapt aspects of the CODES program for their own institutions.
DeSpain notes, “It was especially rewarding to see our CODE Scholars talk about their experiences in the program, how it taught them to listen, communicate, and resolve conflict, and what they learned about how to use their college education to have a lasting impact in their communities. Each of the participating universities has a unique model for integrating aspects of CODES, and I am eager to see how the program will grow and adapt both here and at other Universities.”
PHOTOS: Visitors to SIUE CODES program; ; Adriana Martinez, PhD, SIUE CODES faculty; Scholar Zachary Tobias of SIUE CODES; CODES Program Director Jessica Despain, PhD
