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

James Madison University Service-Learning History – Community Service-Learning - founded and developed by Cecil Bradfield (Sociology) and Ann Myers (Social Work) – Seeking direction – Planning and implementing a program – 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, Director Community 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 Ed Youth & Adult Ed Graduate Assistant Service Learning - Associate Director for Community Programs -Walt Ghant- Student Office Assistant Undergraduate student Federal Work Study Outreach Program Coord. 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-Learning Organizational Chart

Community Service-Learning Funding 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 – –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