Recent History of Service-Learning at TU

1. Recent History of Service-Learning at TU

2. 1st…a little pre-recent history TU had a service-learning coordinator through a state-grant administered through UMBC’s Shriver Center • When the grant was finished, so was the position A President’s Service Learning Task Force established the current campus definition of service-learning. This group predated Dr. Caret and all of the current Vice Presidents except for Dr. Rubin. • Definition created by Task Force: Service-Learningis a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity are key concepts of service-learning”

3. 2004 – 2005 • Dr. Caret created Civic Engagement Steering Committee co-chaired by VP for Student Affairs and the Provost • This group discussed service-learning, amongst other things • Major recommendation was to hire staff person for civic engagement activities

4. 2006 – 2007 • Student Affairs hired Coordinator for Civic Engagement Initiatives to work with CE Steering Committee • Administered CE survey to faculty and staff asking about service learning • Hosted civic engagement workshops that promoted service learning • Developed service learning web site with resources

5. 2007 – 2008 • Replaced CE Steering Committee with CE Advisory Board • Included service-learning subcommittee: • Collected information about which TU faculty are doing/were doing service-learning • Launched another survey focusing specifically on service learning issues • Received 2010 funding from the President’s Office to hire a service-learning graduate assistant and launch the Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program • Hosted March 2008 Service-Learning Workshop

6. 2008- 2009 • Service-Learning GA • developed database of faculty involved in service-learning • developed database of community partners for faculty to work with • Launched Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program • Received funding for AmeriCorps*VISTA Service- Learning Coordinator, hired in August 2008 • Developing resources for faculty and community partners • Hosted Spring ‘09 and Fall ‘09 Service Fairs • Working with service-learning subcommittee and Faculty Fellows • Hosted Service-Learning 101 Workshop for TU faculty, Oct 2009

7. How doe the Service-Learning Subcommittee fit in to all of this? Charge- to explore and implement various strategies to increase service learning at TU This goal is included in the University’s 2010 strategic plan in two separate action items.

8. Where do we go from here? To increase service-learning and provide an appropriate support system, we need to indentify a critical mass of existing service-learning opportunities and interested faculty. • Develop criteria for what we feel constitutes a s-l course • Build support and acceptance of criteria within the University community • Using criteria, designate service-learning classes in course catalog and within departments • Once we have a critical mass, can require students to participate in at least 1 s-l course in order to graduate

9. How do we create faculty buy in? 1. Continue to discuss the reward structure • Monday, March 30, 2009 Scholarship of Engagement Workshop 2. Encourage faculty to identify their service-learning classes- TU in the Community web database 3. Provide support -workshops -resources -classroom assistance using students or more VISTA workers -develop liability form for use with off campus activities -connect with community partners

10. Service-Learning in the Future at TU… In order to increase funding for service-learning initiatives, we need to continue to build momentum. Long term vision for SL at Towson- • Every student participates in at least one s-l course • Every department offers at least one s-l course per semester • Full-time service-learning coordinator who supervises team of classroom assistants for faculty • Increased faculty support and rewards