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Model United Nations

University of Southern Maine

Promising Approaches

• (4) activities and student, community organizations that provide opportunities for students to be engaged in their campuses and communities
• (5) participation in leadership and campus and community governance
• (7) student participation in forums that model democratic processes and procedures…

Overview

Two service-learning courses offered each spring semester prepare undergraduate students to offer the annual Maine Model UN Conference to participants from high school delegations throughout the region. Political Science 395, "Student Leadership, Model UN Conference" enables students to learn while organizing the logistics and materials for the conference.  Political Science 396, "Model UN and Global Education" enables students to learn while teaching and coaching high school delegates in preparation for their roles as representatives of assigned nations.  The conference itself is offered by the service-learning students and members of the Model UN Club, and hosts nearly 500 high school students for a four day, residential experience.

Special Features

Civic Learning Goals

• Civic Knowledge: characteristics and actions of effective, participating citizens…identify, define, describe local (and global) problems and connections on state, national, and international levels…variety of ways an individual can help solve societal problems…knowledge about community affairs, political issues, and processes by which citizens effect change…grasp and appreciation of history and fundamental processes of American (and international) democracy
• Civic Skills: evaluate information for objectivity, accuracy, point of view…apply information to effective efforts to solve societal problems…develop and use critical thinking skills and ethical reasoning…develop and use verbal and written communication skills…work effectively with others and develop teambuilding practices…public speaking…organize meetings…active listening/perspective taking…become informed about community affairs, political issues, processes by which citizens effect change…competencies in achieving group goals…forge coalitions…effectively promote goals in contentious political arenas…pursue an array of cultural, social, political, and religious interests and beliefs…

Contact Information

Prof. Lynn Kuzma at USM

Christopher O’Connor at USM

Andrea Thompson McCall at USM

www.MeMUNC.org