Service-learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity are key concepts of service-learning. At Towson, service-learning is supported by Leadership and Civic Engagement. Department staff assist faculty, students, and community organizations through several programs and services:
Service-Learning Grant
Faculty are eligible to apply for grant money to support service-learning course activities. Funds should be used to allow a professor to “take a course to the next level” in regard to service-learning and permit the class to engage in relevant activities it would otherwise be unable to complete. Applications for the service-learning grant are accepted on an ongoing basis, until funding for the fiscal year has been depleted.
Service-Learning Faculty Fellows
The Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program provides support for faculty interested in creating a new service-learning course or incorporating a significant service-learning component into an existing course. Faculty in this program attend monthly workshops where they learn best practices for developing, teaching, evaluating, and sustaining service-learning courses. Faculty participants receive a $1,000 stipend. Current (2013-2014) Faculty Fellows are below. Faculty interested participating in 2014-2015 can submit a proposal beginning January 2014.
- Tara Bynum, Assistant Professor, English – From Hip Hop To Barack, African American Literature NOW
- Nicole Dombrowski-Risser, Associate Professor, History – History Mural Project
- Colleen Ebacher, Associate Professor, Foreign Languages – Advanced Spanish Conversation
- Gina Ferra Kaplanis, Adjunct Faculty, Collaborative Programs – Exploring Employment for People with Disabilities
- Cyndee Kalodner, Professor, Psychology – Cross-Cultural Psychology
- John McTague, Assistant Professor, Political Science – The Political Structure of Inequality
- Andrew Reiner, Lecturer, English and Honors College – Mr. Rogers 101: Why Community and Civility Matter Now More Than Ever
Service-Learning Classroom Presentations
Leadership and Civic Engagement staff can deliver educational presentations about service-learning and/or civic engagement to your students in the classroom.
One-on-One Service-Learning Consultation
Faculty can contact Leadership and Civic Engagement for individualized assistance with course development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability. This includes identifying community partners, project logistics, course activities, and more.
NEW: Service-Learning Class Note
Faculty and schedulers can now designate courses or sections as ‘service-learning’ in the online class schedule. The class note [#24] reads “Class requires 10-30 hours of service outside of scheduled class periods. Service may be on or off campus. Contact instructor for additional information.” Faculty and schedulers should begin using this class note #24 for Minimester 2014 courses. Not sure if your course should be designated as a service-learning course? Review the “Service-Learning Course Criteria” at the link named “Information for Faculty” at Student Affair’s Service Learning webpage.
For more information about these programs and services go to the Service Learning webpage or contact Chris Jensen at cjensen@towson.edu or 410-704-4146.
