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Institutionalizing Service Learning and Civic Engagement

Institutionalizing Service Learning and Civic Engagement . Paul Sather, Director, Service Learning Academy Deborah Smith-Howell, Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean www.unomaha.edu/servicelearning. UNO’s Mission .

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Institutionalizing Service Learning and Civic Engagement

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  1. Institutionalizing Service Learning and Civic Engagement Paul Sather, Director, Service Learning Academy Deborah Smith-Howell, Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean www.unomaha.edu/servicelearning

  2. UNO’s Mission • As Nebraska’s metropolitan University, UNO is characterized by its strong academic foundations and creative community relationships that transform and improve the lives of constituents, the region, and the nation.

  3. UNO’s Three Strategic Goals • Goal 1—UNO will be recognized as a student-centered metropolitan university • Goal 2—UNO will be recognized for its academic excellence as a leading metropolitan university • Goal 3—UNO will be recognized for its outstanding engagement with the urban, regional, national, and global communities

  4. INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT • Mission and Vision • Defining UNO as a “Metropolitan University” • Carnegie Elective Classification • 2006--Initial group with designation • Both curricular AND Outreach & Partnerships

  5. Why ? • Need for institutional identity • Building on traditions and culture yet creating a vision and opportunities for the future

  6. How? • Beginning in 1997, campus focus on strategic planning • Key faculty in Social Work, English, and then working with the Center for Faculty Development saw opportunities

  7. History of Service Learning at UNO • Seven courses offered in 98-99; over 150 in 2011-2012. • 133 students participating in 98-99; 1700 in 11-12. • Value-added to the community since 98-99, over $7.8 million. • Service-learning courses offered in all six academic colleges and the graduate college.

  8. The Faculty Role A study of 45 colleges and universities (Bell et al., 2000) found that the strongest predictor for institutionalizing service-learning on college campuses is faculty involvement in and support for service-learning. Why is faculty involvement so important? • to ensure course quality • to sustain work over a period of years • to win administrative support • to open the door to other kinds of institutional engagement (e.g., recruitment, research)

  9. UNO Service Learning Academy: Role and Activities • Established Fall 2005 as independent office with full-time director • Provide Faculty and Community Partners Support • K-12 Partnerships • Recipient of local, state, and national grants & contracts

  10. Projects and Initiatives • Interdisciplinary Days of Service • Faculty Seminars (North, South, K-12, ) • Civic Participation Projects • Debate Watch • Deliberative Polling • Culture Walks • Newspapers in Curriculum

  11. Benefits of Service Learning:UNO • Visible enactment of institutional mission as metropolitan university; • Public commitment to the community; • Regional and national recognition; • Enhanced student satisfaction; and • Enhanced student learning.

  12. SUCCESSES • UNO is nationally recognized for its engagement efforts: • “Community Engagement Classification” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (2006) • President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll - with distinction (2009) • UNO’s Service Learning Program recognized as an “Academic Program to Look For” among 42 programs nationally by U.S. News and World Report • “Honorable Mention,” Washington Center’s Higher Education Civic Engagement Award • Top 25 “Best Neighbor” colleges and universities among 125 institutions who participated “Saviors of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships”

  13. Next Steps • Scholarship of Engagement Initiative • Student Service-Volunteer-Leadership Coordination and Programming • IARSLCE Annual Conference, Omaha, 2013 • CUMU (Coalition of Urban & Metropolitan Universities) Annual Conference 2015

  14. UNO Community Engagement Center Groundbreaking October 24, 2012

  15. For more information Paul Sather psather@unomaha.edu Deborah Smith-Howell Dsmith-howell@unomaha.edu

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