Service learning is a type of experiential learning that engages students in community service as part of a course, allowing them to apply what they learn while also developing civic responsibility. Students report benefits like stronger academic skills, career development, and relationships with peers and faculty. Faculty also note improved ability to apply knowledge and critical thinking. Examples of service learning projects at UCM include business students solving real problems and social work students raising awareness of time management issues in the community.

1. SERVICE LEARNING: EDUCATION BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Service Learning Coordinator Tiffany S. Bumpers; AmeriCorps* VISTA

2. What is Service-Learning? Service learning is a type of experiential learning that engages students in service within the community as an integrated aspect of a course.

3. Continued Students participate in an organized service activity and reflect on that activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility.

4. Students in courses with a service learning component report higher gains in academic skills, life skills, and civic development than students who do not participate in service learning. Additionally, students report that service learning helps to clarify career goals, contributes to stronger relationships with peers and faculty, and results in a more satisfying learning experience. Student Benefits

5. Continued…

6. Continued… Service-learning has a positive effect on sense of social responsibility and citizenship skills. Service-learning has a positive effect on commitment to service Volunteer service in college is associated with involvement in community service after graduation. Students and faculty report that service-learning has a positive impact on students’ academic learning. Eyler, J., Giles, D., Stenson, C. , & Gray, C. (2001)

7. Continued… Students and faculty report that service-learning improves students’ ability to apply what they have learned in ‘the real world’. Service-learning participation has an impact on such academic outcomes as demonstrated complexity of understanding, problem analysis, critical thinking, and cognitive development. Service-learning contributes to career development. Eyler, J., Giles, D., Stenson, C. , & Gray, C. (2001)

8. Sample Projects UCM’s Integrative Business Experience (IBE) Major: Business UCM’s Integrative Business Experience (IBE) is a intensive, hands-on foundation for undergraduate business education designed to develop interpersonal and group-interaction skills in a work-like setting. Students also learn from experience to apply key business concepts and analytical tools to solve a wide range of unstructured, but very real problems.

9. Continued… UCM’s Take Back Your Time Major: Social Work A service-learning class students hosted “Take Back Your Time” to inform the public regarding the adverse effects of time urgency in our culture. Students spoke with local organizations about “Take Back Your Time” and received donations from many local organizations for a drawing where monies were donated to a local charity. There were 15 students who participated in the project with approximately 120 hours of work OUTSIDE the classroom.

10. Continued… Manchester College, IN Major: Health Science; Exercise Evidence shows that home-schooled children often do not have a healthy regimen of physical education in their home curriculum. In response to this problem, a professor of health at Manchester College asked students in a course on physical education to provide services to home-schooled children and their parents. Students apply motor learning theory to develop activities for home schooling families, and then work with families to devise a physical education schedule that will properly develop their children’s abilities and health.

11. Community Engaged Scholarship Community Engaged Scholarship (CES) is defined as “teaching, discovery, integration, application and engagement that involves the scholar (faculty or staff member or student) in a mutually beneficial partnership with the community.” CES can include aspects of public and outreach scholarship, community-based participatory research, applied and action research, training and technical assistance, policy work and advocacy etc. Victoria Steel, UCM

12. Sample CES Projects UCM’s Blind Boone Park Earth Day Celebration Contact Person: Delia Gillis UCM students were invited by The Center for Africana Studies to help in revitalizing Blind Boone Park on Earth Day 2009. Students were asked to meet for 2 hours and help renovate the once segregated park by planning flowers in the parks Foundation Flower Bed.

13. Continued… UCM’s Creative Engine 24 hour Marathon Contact Person: John Lynch The Creative Engine is an annual 24-hour marathon of free graphic design assistance provided by the best and brightest of the university’s aspiring graphic designers. Because of the Creative Engine local non-profits are able receive high quality pro-bono graphic design work. The Creative Engine produced the following for local non-profits in the past: logos, newsletters, event posters, brochures, web pages and print ads.

14. Continued… University of Washington; WA, Washington- Substance Abuse Education: Talkin About It As part of a campus-wide effort to raise awareness of substance abuse, students at the University of Washington put together a series of campus performances and events. In the play, Talkin About It, students portray the story of a college student confronted by problems associated with substance abuse. Following each performance, audience questions are fielded by a student with training in substance abuse issues. Students also organize a Substance Awareness Week each year, which includes a number of awareness-raising events. Students provide information through a brochure on substance abuse issues and a small health fair.

15. Resources Available to YOU CTL Service Learning Library 38+ Books and Journals on Service Learning Webpage with partner database List of community partners (non-profits) and their needs Mini grant - enables faculty to adapt their courses to CES courses 10-12 grants available to assist with service learning courses Development opportunities Presentations, workshops grants, support, and information

16. UCM Received the Presidents Honor Award for Service-Learning 2007-2008 Service-Learning Classes 47 Service-Learning Faculty 26 Number of Volunteers 3,526 Volunteer Hours 10,500+

17. Long-term Goals Increase the number of service learning courses Create a service learning advisory committee Track service learning hours performed Institute service learning in the university course description

18. Get involved with Service Learning To schedule an appointment to discuss service-learning opportunities: Tiffany Bumpers- AmeriCorps* VISTA; CTL 1800 Ward Edwards 660-543-8642 [email_address]