Service-Learning Initiative

The Service-Learning Initiative at the Ohio State University: 2011-2012 Priorities

This year, the service-learning initiative will be working to strengthen our existing services, as well as provide new services and resources to staff and faculty. We will be working to achieve the following goals:

Improved Student and Faculty Resources

• Enhance training opportunities for students entering service-learning courses, including self-directed Carmen modules and other resources
• Pilot a 1-day educational event on working with resource-poor populations, including a poverty simulation and other opportunities for discussion and reflection
• Provide at least 3 workshops on faculty-requested topics, such as class assessment and best practices
• Promote greater involvement of students in service-learning initiative, including a student advisory group and a new listserv for students

Improved Visibility, Communication and Connection

• Participate in relevant student events, such as the Student Involvement Fair
• Continue promoting conversations about service-learning through the Service-Learning Scholars Roundtable and other venues
• Continue to provide service-learning coffee hours and other opportunities for faculty and community partners to meet up and share resources and ideas
• Continue to honor our service-learning partners on campus with the Presidential Honor Roll, the 2012 Service-Learning awards, and other opportunities for recognition
• Seek new venues to promote the service-learning initiative wherever appropriate

Promoting Engaged Scholarship with Service-Learning

• Provide comprehensive, up-to-date information on existing service-learning research
• Improve our presence at research conferences and other venues for service-learning research
• Provide mini-grants to faculty that are interested in participating in research
• Provide “Community Impact” grant to support service-learning faculty in assessing impact and developing best practices

Improved Assessment and Best Practices

• Work with faculty to define service-learning at OSU, and narrow down best practices and other materials that can be shared with faculty
• Develop criteria for data collection and service-learning courses that promotes best practices and maximum community impact
• Survey students, faculty, and alumni to learn more about impact of OSU’s service-learning initiative

Assist Faculty with Service-Learning Courses in Quarter-to-Semester Conversion

• Continue to maintain list of currently-available service-learning courses, maintaining communication with instructors as necessary
• Provide comprehensive guidance on process to obtain S-designation for semesters transition
• Work to ensure that at least 50% of all ASC Service-Learning Courses are available as GE Open Options for students