Portfolio Presentation Guidelines

Portfolio Presentation Timing, Length, and Format

Portfolio presentations are scheduled throughout the year at times that are convenient for you and the advisory committee. You may even present your portfolio after you have officially graduated from MSU (within one year). The program coordinator will schedule your presentation via zoom, to accommodate community partners and your peers’ attendance.

You should block out 75 minutes for your portfolio presentation in total. You will have 30 minutes to present your work, followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers from the public attendees. Then, the advisory committee will have 15 minutes to ask questions with you individually, followed by 15 minutes of deliberation.

You should prepare a professional presentation, using powerpoint or some other presentation software. You are required to give a copy of your presentation to the program coordinator at the conclusion of your presentation.

Requirements

Your portfolio presentation should be thought of as more of an executive summary than a comprehensive presentation of your community-engaged scholarship and practice. As you prepare your presentation, you can be confident that the advisory committee has read your written portfolio in advance. Think of the presentation is a companion piece to the written portfolio in which you elaborate on key points. Keep in mind, the advisory committee is expecting about 20% project description and 80% reflections on community engagement competencies, your experience with your project, and your personal growth and learning.

Advisory Committee Decisions

The advisory committee has three options when reviewing your written portfolio and presentation together. They may pass you, ask for a revisions, or fail you. Approximately 50% of the students pass right away and 50% have to make some revisions. If you are asked to make revisions, the program coordinator will work with the advisory committee to have the necessary revisions clearly specified so you know exactly what to address in your revised portfolio. The program coordinator will work with you on a timeline for the revisions. Historically, students have not asked to revise their presentations. Rarely, a graduate student fails their portfolio.

Once you have passed your written portfolio and presentation, the program coordinator will work with The Graduate School and the Registrar’s Office to ensure the Graduate Certification in Community Engagement appears as an official academic credential on your transcript. You do not have to complete any additional paperwork or online forms.