success and challenge: building a sustainable service-learning program rich harris, director james...
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Success and Challenge:Building a Sustainable
Service-Learning Program
Rich Harris, Director
James Madison University
What Does Success Look Like?
Campus Compact
Building A Service-Learning Pyramid
www.compact.org/faculty/specialreport
James Madison UniversityService-Learning History
• 1986-1991 – Community Service-Learning - founded and developed by Cecil Bradfield (Sociology) and Ann Myers (Social Work)
• 1992-1995 – Seeking direction• 1996-2002 – Planning and implementing a
program• 2003-2005 – Budget cuts and creating a void• 2006-present – Institutionalizing service-learning
What Was Learned?
• Link service-learning to the university mission• Do your homework – discover and implement
best practices• Pick your campus champions and have them
represent the program • Identify constituents and involve them in the
development process• Designate leadership with dedicated time and
funding to engage the campus in service-learning development
• Be realistic – develop pilot programs and evaluate their success
More Learning
• Develop a plan– Link service-learning to the institution’s
mission– Define service learning and program goals– Identify who will be involved, roles and
benefits– Identify program structure and resources
needed– Identify and create partnerships– Link Academic and Student Affairs– Present institutional choices
JMU Service-Learning Today
• The JMU Mission
• Service-Learning Defined
• Service-Learning Goals
• Programs and Partnerships
• Administrative Structure and Funding
Rich Harris, DirectorCommunity Service Learning
Fiscal Assistant
Julie Slifer
Alternative Spring Break
Coordinators (2)
Service Coordinators (7)Aging Services
Community Wellness & Environment Disability Services
Early & Elementary Ed Hunger & Housing
Special EdYouth & Adult Ed
Graduate AssistantService Learning
--
Associate Director for Community Programs
-Walt Ghant-
Student Office Assistant
Undergraduatestudent
Federal Work Study
Outreach ProgramCoord.
Information Technology Coordinator
Alternative Spring Break Leaders
(40-50)
Administrative Assistant
-Debbie Fox-
Student Office Assistant
Associate Director for Domestic and International
Programs
- Lorelei Esbenshade-
Alternative Spring Break Graduate Assistant
-
Community Service-LearningOrganizational Chart
Community Service-LearningFunding Sources
• Tuition dollars• Student fee dollars• Federal dollars
– America Reads– Community Based Federal Work Study
• Expendable account• Endowment account• Fees for service – Primarily ASB• Provost office – faculty development
Next Steps for JMU
• Expanded community and JMU educational partnerships
• Moving towards civic engagement by service-learning progression– Exposure – Understanding– Action
• Institutionalized of faculty support and development – Expanding understanding, breadth and depth of service-learning
Action Research
Service-Learning Course
Service-Learning Component
Service-Learning as an Option
Integrating Service-Learning Into a Course
JMU Faculty Support
– Placement service and classroom visits – www.jmu.edu/csl/serv-ops/placements
– Customized service-learning placement and course development
– Classroom reflection facilitation and support– Workshops, training and funding in partnership with
Center for Faculty Innovation– Departmental specific training and workshops– Brown bag lunches for faculty support– Service-Learning faculty blackboard site– CS-L library and web site – Individual consultation – Advocating for faculty in the tenure process
Service-Learning and Tenure
• Teaching– Generally the most supported– Support and reward for course development– Teaching evaluations increase
• Service– Credit for community service– “Packaging” of service activities
• Research– Service-Learning pedagogy– Service-Learning in the specific discipline– Faculty mentors
• Scholarly Activity at JMU
How Students Benefit
• More engaged - learning comes alive• Aids in academic and vocational decision
making• Reflective thinkers and learners• Better prepared for the world they will live in –
people, ideas and skills• Path to civic engagement
– Exposure– Understanding – Action
What Holds Service-Learning Together at JMU?
• Linked to the JMU mission
• Part of the JMU culture based on 20 year history
• Partnerships– JMU involvement in the community– Student and Academic Affairs– Multiple offices in all programs– Faculty development in learning communities– Strong student leadership
• Institutional service-learning “home”, funding and support services – CS-L department coordinates these
• Ongoing development and change
Pitfalls
• Overreaching resources – human, time and budgetary
• Lack of a future plan• Lack of ongoing institutional support and dollars
for an ongoing program – faculty development• Lack of partnerships• Making service-learning the responsibility of just
one office or group rather than engaging the entire campus
Questions?
For More Information Contact:
Rich Harris, Director
Community Service-Learning
James Madison University
540-568-3463
www.jmu.edu/csl