eJournal of Public Affairs

In broad terms, jazz is a useful metaphor for American democratic ideals because both are a process, not a product. To the musicians who make it, jazz is not so much a genre as it is a way of making music, even a philosophy of music making. Similarly, democracy is not a destination so much as it is the structural means of co-existing with people who have politically liked-minded agendas as well as with those who have competing, contrary goals. Theoretically, if the American ideals of freedom and equality were ever attained, we could no more take our hands off the wheels of government than a jazz ensemble could drop their instruments once the music started swinging. Like the jazz musician constantly negotiating their rhythmic feel with others in a band, the democratic process is the way we continually and collectively negotiate our respective political aims. Any outcome, be it the music or the current state of our society, is merely the byproduct of the integrity we bring to the jazz and democratic processes. 

Editor’s note. The following is transcribed from a presentation by Varun Soni during the 2024 Public Affairs Conference at Missouri State University.

Editor’s note. The following is based on a panel session from the 2024 Public Affairs Conference, presented by Nancy Ammerman, Harry Bruinius, and Kenneth Woodward. The panel was a reflection on what has happened since authors Robert Putnam and Robert Bellah issued warnings on the decline of community in America.

Editor’s note. The following is based on a panel session from the 2024 Public Affairs Conference, presented by Nancy Ammerman, Harry Bruinius, and Kenneth Woodward. The panel was a reflection on what has happened since authors Robert Putnam and Robert Bellah issued warnings on the decline of community in America.

Editor’s note. The following is based on a panel session from the 2024 Public Affairs Conference, presented by Nancy Ammerman, Harry Bruinius, and Kenneth Woodward. The panel was a reflection on what has happened since authors Robert Putnam and Robert Bellah issued warnings on the decline of community in America.

This issue had its genesis thirty years ago at a campus lecture, a lecture that helped launch Missouri State University’s public affairs mission. Speaking on the “moral crisis in American public life,” sociologist Robert Bellah criticized the toxic individualism of the global elite, calling for a renewed commitment to the common good. Addressing an audience of 1,700 students, faculty, and local residents, Bellah ignited a community-wide discussion that reverberated across university classrooms, Ozarks congregations, and in the pages of the Springfield News-Leader.  Bellah’s questions remain no less relevant today: How can we balance individualism with our shared commitments? How can the individual and the group come together in the dance of democracy? How can we address societal problems in ways that acknowledge both the agency of the individual and the systems and structures which constrain us all?

Over the past decade, Fresno State has engaged in numerous efforts in support of Student Success. Some of these efforts are a result of systemwide initiatives (e.g., Graduation Initiative 2025 and Equity Priorities) while others are developed in response to grants received (e.g., SSEI, PALS, and APLES). We closely examine our extensive data on areas of concern to develop campus pilots with the hope of closing equity gaps and improving student outcomes. This presentation will explore these various efforts and provide an overview of what is working, what did not work, and what remains a work in progress.

In today's rapidly evolving job market, it is imperative for educational institutions to prepare students for successful transitions into the workforce. This project highlights the integration of experiential learning opportunities into the curriculum through partnerships with industry organizations. By bridging academia and industry, students gain practical skills, industry insights, and professional networks essential for thriving in their careers.

SUNY Oswego participated in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Student Success Equity Intensive (AASCU SSEI) project to deeply understand our students’ experience through multi-layered data collection and analysis, a strong leadership team to reflect on that data and propose initiatives, and a U.S. Department of Education grant to support those initiatives. This short paper describes that process, focusing primarily on the data collection components.