Information for Faculty

Enter the Service-Learning Portal (for current faculty)
What counts as service-learning?
Register your service-learning course
Why work with the Service-Learning Center?
Read the Faculty Handbook
Join a Faculty Study Group
Attend a Workshop
Report on your semester activities

What Counts As Service-Learning?

Service-learning opportunities include:

• courses that incorporate an optional or required community service experience of at least 15 hours for the semester;
• academic clubs that carry out significant community service projects related to their disciplinary areas;
• academic programs that have a community service requirement of at least 10 hours for its participants;
• co-curricular programs that integrate a structured service and learning experience for its participants;
• internships or field work experiences that intentionally integrate civic learning objectives and impact a public entity;
• community-based or action research projects with clear deliverables to a public entity.

Why Work With the Service-Learning Center?

We provide you with:

• logistical assistance and resource support so that you can focus on teaching rather than managing;
• assistance in developing experiences that incorporate the best practices in service-learning pedagogy;
• faculty development opportunities to enhance your integration of service with learning;
• models for assessing the impact of service-learning on students' academic and civic development;
• connection with activities of other units on campus doing similar work;
• criteria for community partnerships in order to develop meaningful and engaging experiences that make a difference and are sustained over time;
• recognition and celebration at our annual Expo event;
• documentation on the variety and impact of service-learning on campus.

Faculty Study Groups:

2007-2008: TBA

Faculty Study Groups are organized in collaboration with the Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Study groups meet regularly throughout the academic year for scholarly discussin around topics that pertain to excellence in teaching. Participants who commit to the entire year may receive a professional development grant of $300. To learn more about service-learning study groups, contact Michele James-Deramo.

Workshops for Faculty:

2007-2008:
Service-Learning as a Strategy for Engaged Teaching and Scholarship, Michele James-Deramo, Director, Service Learning
Thursday, November 8, 3:00-5:00, Hillcrest

Student engagement has emerged as a priority objective in the current Strategic Plan. In the coming years, faculty and departments will be asked to document how they are meeting student engagement targets, both in the classroom and through their broader portfolio of work. The purpose of this workshop is to lead faculty in thinking about and designing service-learning components that enrich their own experience of teaching, and enhance their scholarly work. Additionally, the workshop invites participants to reexamine their traditional views of knowledge, and to discover how epistemic perspectives are enlarged when community enters the picture. Participants will receive a tote bag of resources for using service-learning in the classroom.