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1998-1999

Dr. Martha Garland, Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies, convened a group of eight faculty to begin discussions about service-learning. This group, 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.

Meeting monthly, the Roundtable made recommendations focused on faculty development, common definition and visibility, and development of infrastructure.

1999-2000

• Service-Learning Scholars Roundtable was expanded to 28 faculty from over 12 academic areas.
• 10 new service-learning courses were funded with mini-grants.
• A Faculty Guide to Creating Service-Learning Courses at The Ohio State University was created.
• Service-Learning Initiative website was launched.
• Faculty were surveyed about service-learning courses and community partnerships.

2000-2001

• SLSR received a 3-year grant from the Corporation for National Service to support institutionalization of service-learning.
• SLSR sponsored a lecture, “Universities as Citizens: Promoting the Scholarship of Engagement,” and faculty development workshop, “Introduction to Service-Learning: Renewed Teaching, Enhanced Student Leaning, and Community Benefit,” by Robert Bringle, Professor of Psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University.
• 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.

2001-2002

• The Service-Learning Initiative (SLI) was created as an entity with two full-time staff and part-time leadership from two faculty.
• 1,288 students participated in service-learning courses
• SLSR membership includes 53 faculty from 13 colleges.
• Community Connection database was introduced collaboratively by SLI, P-12 Project, and Project Community/Ohio Union.
• $38,508 in grants for service-learning course development was awarded to 10 faculty.
• The first annual recognition of Student, Faculty, and Community Partner Achievement in Community Service was held on May 2, 2002 at the Ohio Union.
• SLI sponsored a 2-day workshop with Tim Stanton, Stanford University: “Recognizing the ‘Good’ in Community Service” and “Enhancing Faculty Engagement in Community-Based Scholarship: Lessons Learned from Two Decades of Community-Based Work at Stanford.”

2002-2003

• $95,836 in grants was awarded for the development of 19 courses.
• The Celebration of Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship was held on May 8, 2003 in the Ohio Union.
• Two faculty development events were held: “Successful Service-Learning Programs” with Edward Zlotkowski, Bentley College; and “Where's the Learning in Service-Learning?” with Janet Eyler, Vanderbilt University.

2003-2004

• $33,923 in grants supported the development of seven service-learning courses.
• The Celebration of Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship was held on May 14, 2004 in the Stecker Lounge of the Ohio Union.
• Summer Institutes for grant recipients were held:
• Principles of Good Practice in Service-Learning, July 19, 2004, facilitated by Edward Zlotkowski
• Assessment, August 16, 2004, facilitated by Dr. Sherrill Gelmon and Kevin Kecskes
• Building Reciprocal Partnerships, August 17, 2004, facilitated by Dr. Kathleen Rice and Dr. Brenda James
• SLI received a 3-year grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to support Scholarship and Service Teams in a University Neighborhood.

2004-2005

• $24,000 in grants was awarded to three Interdisciplinary University/Community Service-Learning Teams for course development plus $5,000 for a Hurricane Katrina special project
• The Celebration of Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship was held on May 12, 2005 in the Stecker Lounge of the Ohio Union.
• Summer Institutes for grant recipients:
• Introduction to Service-Learning Best Practices and Curriculum Development, July 18, 2005, Kerrissa Heffernan, Swearer Center for Public Service at Brown University
• Reciprocal, Sustainable Partnership for Building Community Assets, July 19, 2005, John McKnight, Asset-Based Community Development Institute, Northwestern University
• Assessment, August 15, 2005, Melissa Kesler Gilbert, Center for Community Engagement at Otterbein College
• The Site Liaison Program of Student Leaders for Service and Activism began.

2005-2006

• April 2005: SLI joined the Office of University Outreach and Engagement in 400 Stillman Hall.
• Winter Quarter 2006: New staff positions were created—Program Coordinator, Communications Manager, and Office Assistant.
• Two Interdisciplinary University/Community Service-Learning Teams received grants of $8,000 each for course development.
• The Celebration of Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship was held on May 18, 2006 in the Stecker Lounge of the Ohio Union.
• Summer Institutes for grant recipients:
• Introduction to Service-Learning Best Practices and Curriculum Development, July 17, 2006, Kerrissa Heffernan, Swearer Center for Public Service at Brown University
• Assessment, August 14, 2006, Melissa Kesler Gilbert, Center for Community Engagement at Otterbein College
• Reciprocal, Sustainable Partnership for Building Community Assets, August 16, 2006, John McKnight, Asset-Based Community Development Institute, Northwestern University

2006-2007

• $36,274 was awarded to four Interdisciplinary University/Community Service-Learning Teams; six summer grants were awarded: three for course development ($17,983) and three for course enhancement ($3,500)
• The Celebration of Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship was held on May 10, 2007 at the Frank W. Hale, Jr., Black Cultural Center.
• 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
• The S.E.R.V.I.C.E. Squad assumed leadership of the Site Liaison Program.

2007-2008

• The Service-Learning Initiative compiled Ohio State’s application to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Ohio State was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction.
• 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.
• $11,500 in grants was awarded to faculty: three for course development and two for course enhancement.
• Faculty Development Events:
• Service-Learning Live!, September 21, 2007: observation of Amie Wolfe’s English 110 class, including the basics of preparing students for service-learning
• Preparing for Partnership Fall Workshop Series co-sponsored with the Office of University Outreach & Engagement: October 16, 2007—Understanding Partnerships and Finding the Right Match; November 14, 2007—Evaluating the Impact of Your Partnership; December 6, 2007—Funding Your Partnership Project
• Service-Learning Grants Workshop, January 11, 2008, explaining the course development and course enhancement grants and the S-designation, a required element of service-learning course development proposals
• Secrets of Service-Learning Resource Fair, April 29, 2008, gave faculty an opportunity to learn about support services, resources, and course management tools; network with faculty who successfully teach service-learning courses; and meet potential community partners.
• The Celebration of Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship was held on May 15, 2008 at the Frank W. Hale, Jr., Black Cultural Center.

2008-2009

• The Service-Learning Initiative compiled Ohio State’s application to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Ohio State was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for the second consecutive year.
• Faculty Development Events:
• The “S”: What It Is and How to Get It, October 24, 2008: explanation of the process of applying for the S designation for service-learning courses, how applications are reviewed, and how the S can add value to courses.
• The Future of International Service-Learning: World Café, November 18, 2008: students, faculty, and staff shared their experiences with international service-learning to begin a dialogue about its future at Ohio State.
• Faculty Spotlight: Integrating Community-Based Work and Scholarship, January 9, 2009: Jennifer Evans-Cowley, associate professor, City & Regional Planning, described how she integrates research and service successfully through her service-learning courses.
• Service-Learning Grants Workshop, January 16, 2009: explained the course development and course enhancement grants and the S-designation, a required element of service-learning course development proposals
• Seeing the Light: Shaping Reflection on Service, April 3, 2009: faculty shared examples of fitting appropriate reflection exercises to the level of learning and how reflection is evaluated.
• Preparing Students for Service: World Café, June 16, 2009: faculty, staff, and community partners offered ideas and opinions to answer the question "What would it mean for our students to be well prepared for work in the community?"
• 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.
• $8,998 in grants was awarded for three course development projects.
• The Celebration of Excellence in Community Service and Scholarship was held on May 14, 2009 at the Frank W. Hale, Jr., Black Cultural Center.