The Service-Learning Scholars Program is an initiative of the Service Integration Project (SIP) aimed at linking the University s commitment to the undergraduate experience and community outreach. The program will provide opportunities and incentives for faculty to explore and implement service-learning into first-year seminar, capstone, or other courses. Service-learning as a vehicle for instruction encourages a greater understanding of complex community problems, enhanced general knowledge, increased interpersonal and leadership skills, greater commitment to promoting racial understanding, and an increased commitment to community.
For participation and commitment to exploring and integrating service-learning, departments of Service-Learning Scholars will receive $1,500 to adjust faculty member workload and/or compensate the faculty member for the additional effort (faculty do not ordinarily receive supplemental pay from grant funds though summer pay is allowable). Participating faculty will also receive access to SIP s mini-grant pool for additional resource development. The Scholars will commit to attending all training sessions, to becoming advocates for service-learning, and to integrating service-learning into at least one course within one year.
Goals of the Scholars Program:
- 1) Participants will learn how to effectively integrate service-learning into their coursework and will revise/create a service-learning curriculum plan to be use in the next academic year.
2) Participants will become knowledgeable about and hopefully increase their enthusiasm for this teaching pedagogy leading to a long-term commitment to service-learning.
Program Description:
The Scholars training involves a small number of participants in order to create an atmosphere for discussion and learning from one another. Foundational information on service-learning will be provided through mini-lectures, readings and discussion. Members of the Service Integration Project Faculty Advisory Committee and community partner representatives will visit for guest lectures/discussions. Participants will review sample service-learning syllabi to offer critique and discuss the merits of each in preparation for revising their own syllabus. During the final session, participants will present their own service-learning syllabus to the group.
Other Service Learning programs include: Faculty Scholars Program, Faculty Manual, quarterly newsletter, training, course evaluations & logistical assistance. SLVP also offers a full range of extra-curricular service projects involving students in companionship, mentoring & tutoring with children, people with disabilities and the elderly. We coordinate events for World Food Day, Make A Difference Day, CSUnity, Martin Luther King Day, etc. Our nationally recognized Alternative Breaks Program facilitates partnerships with the Hopi Tribe in Arizona and other communities nationwide.
Contact person: Victoria Keller , Director, SLVP,
