Service-Learning Initiative

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The Service-Learning Initiative is over 10 years old! Learn more about the history of service-learning at Ohio State on this page.

The Service-Learning Initiative continued to strengthen our existing services, as well as provide new resources and services to faculty, students, and staff. Several highlights include:

Providing mini-grants for faculty interested in developing courses with service-learning content.
Working to ensure that more ASC Service-Learning Courses are available as GE Open Options for students.
Continuing to honor our service-learning partners on campus with the Presidential Honor Roll, the 2012 Service-Learning awards, and other opportunities for recognition.

The Service-Learning Initiative is assigned a new direct reporting line to the Office of Undergraduate Education, which will help the initiative continue to enhance student learning through service-learning, support faculty engaged in service-learning, and monitor and assess student learning outcomes.
The Office of Undergraduate Education, Office of Academic Affairs announced Ola Ahlqvist as the new director of Ohio State’s Service-Learning Initiative. Dr. Ahlqvist is a Department of Geography faculty member with a rich history of service-learning collaborations that include not only community members but also colleagues from across campus. Columbus City Council has recognized Dr. Ahlqvist and Tim Hawthorne (recent PhD, Geography) for their Near East Side service-learning project in which they partnered with the African American and African Studies Community Extension Center and community groups, including the Neighborhood House, the Columbus Urban League, and Columbus Public Health for Geography 580S, “Elements of Cartography.”

Through a grant from Ohio Campus Compact’s Pay it Forward Program and administrative/implementation support from the Service-Learning Initiative several OSU courses (Nursing/Business) have incorporated a new student philanthropy component. The Pay it Forward grant for student philanthropy helps students learn how to be engaged citizens and to understand the important role philanthropy plays in our communities, our nation, and the world. The Service-Learning Initiative has helped to secure funding for the second and third rounds of funding as well (2010-2012).

The Service-Learning Initiative 10th Anniversary Celebration, February 5, 2009, held at the Women's Field House, included recognition of those who helped achieve this milestone and discussion about what the next level of service-learning at Ohio State should look like.

On May 30, 2007, the Council on Academic Affairs approved the proposal submitted by the Service-Learning Initiative for policies and procedures for listing service-learning courses with an “S” suffix.

The Service-Learning Initiative sponsored a number of faculty development events:
- University-Community Engagement as a Means to Advance Scholarship, Citizenship, and Social Justice, lecture and faculty workshop with Ira Harkavy, October 13, 2006
- Balancing Student Learning with Community Problem Solving: Case Studies from the University of Washington, March 2, 2007, Sharon E. Sutton, University of Washington
- Promoting Community/University Development Partnerships that Work: Lessons from East St. Louis, April 20, 2007, Kenneth M. Reardon, Cornell University

SLI joined the Office of University Outreach and Engagement in 400 Stillman Hall and added new shared staff positions (program coordinator, communications coordinator and general office support).

SLI received a 3-year grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to support Scholarship and Service Teams in a University Neighborhood.

SLSR received a 3-year grant from the Corporation for National Service to support institutionalization of service-learning.
SLSR formed collaborative linkages with the P-12 Project, John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, and the Office of Faculty and TA Development.
The Service-Learning Initiative (SLI) was created as an entity with two full-time staff and part-time leadership from two faculty.

A Faculty Guide to Creating Service-Learning Courses at The Ohio State University was created.
Service-Learning Initiative website was launched.
Faculty were first surveyed about service-learning courses and community partnerships.

Dr. Martha Garland, Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies, convened a group of eight faculty to begin discussions about service-learning. Led by Dr. Golden Jackson, the Service-Learning Scholars Roundtable (SLSR), considered ways of improving the quality of the undergraduate experience by engaging students in teaching, research, and/or service activities, with particular attention to consideration of the role of service-learning as an effective strategy for engaging faculty, students, and community members in community-based teaching/learning/inquiry.