STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The Tarleton State University Center for Educational Excellence worked with several different community groups and departments on campus to organize and pilot a Community Action Poverty Simulation for students to participate in.
With the percentage of individuals living in Erath County below the poverty line being higher than both the state and federal levels, understanding the effects this issue has on members of the community is imperative to raising awareness and educating people on available resources.
During this hands-on learning experience, 45 students, faculty and staff along with 15 community volunteers were divided into different families, given specific jobs and faced various real-world scenarios to help them identify with the emotions and difficulties that those in poverty face.
“Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families in our communities, yet those who have not experienced it firsthand often struggle to fully grasp its impact,” said Dr. Misty Smith, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development. “Simulation-based learning offers a powerful, immersive approach that allows participants to actively engage to experience real-world challenges relevant to their professional fields, fostering deeper understanding and critical thinking skills.”
This three-hour high-impact experience included an introduction and pre-brief, the simulation itself, and a debriefing session where participants and volunteer staff discussed key takeaways about the realities of poverty while exploring ways to apply their learning in both personal and professional contexts.
“Our goal is for participants to leave with a greater understanding, a transformed perspective and a renewed commitment to driving positive change in their communities,” added Soncee Heard-Smith, Program Specialist for the Center for Educational Excellence.
Faculty whose students participated in the event will be able to follow up with students and continue to help by discussing specific ways for them to apply what they learned to their field of study.
“This simulation uniquely integrates community engagement by involving representatives from local service agencies and businesses in agency roles, providing an authentic and meaningful experience,” explained Rachel Truss, Experiential Learning Specialist. “Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration is a key component, with students and faculty from various academic disciplines participating.”
Several departments within the university partnered with the Tarleton State Center for Educational Excellence, including the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Department of Social Work, and the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Public Health, and Nutrition Science
Community group volunteers included representation from the Erath County Wholistic Investment Network (WIN), Famers & Merchants Bank, CASA for the Cross Timbers Area, Allen Financial Management, Ranger College, Tarleton State’s University Police Department, Tarleton Student Counseling Services, Texas Health Resources, Basic Needs Ministry, Cross Timbers Church of Christ, Graham Street Church of Christ, and the Stephenville Fire Department.
“As president of a nonprofit that works in a holistic way to help community members overcome the factors that lead to poverty, I encounter many who say they understand what it feels like to live in this way,” said William O’Dell, president of WIN. “This poverty simulation, even though just a role play, provides an open window into the daily walk of someone living without many options, someone who feels like the world opposes their every effort to succeed.”
For more information about participating in future Community Action Poverty Simulations, please contact the Center for Educational Excellence at cee@tarleton.edu or call 254-968-9060.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.