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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 three-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 three-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.