BUILDING AN INITIATIVE FOR STEWARDSHIP
THROUGH SERVICE LEARNING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Relationship to Mission and Goals

The Initiative for service learning and civic engagement are directly related to the College's Mission Statement, Core Values and General Educational Goals. Both civic engagement and service learning represent "engaged learning opportunities" that provide opportunities to develop "ethical awareness." They impart the skills and sensibilities necessary for responsible citizenship and stewardship at local, regional, national and global levels. Lastly, civic engagement/service learning programming is increasingly viewed as a measure of quality educational programming by accrediting organizations.

Numerous studies attest to both the need and the relevance of civic engagement and service learning. These studies point to the benefits to all parties involved. Students identify and learn relevant skills in a purposeful context. Educators facilitate learning based on students' identified goals and reflections on service experiences. Community groups benefit by getting a new, and frequently more diverse, generation involved in their work. The collaboration between college, community, student and educator further grounds the college in a fabric of collaboration and community life.

Goals

1. Formation of a Committee to develop and guide the Initiative. The Committee will include faculty, staff, students, members of community organizations/educational institutions and administrators.
2. Development of a model for strategic planning that connects students, the College and Communities.
3. Initiation of a central clearing office for Civic Engagement/Service Learning and the development of a website.
4. Provision of educational opportunities for professional development and project development on Civic Engagement/Service Learning for students, faculty and staff.
5. Provision of a qualitative description of existing and potential civic engagement/service learning experiences and opportunities at John a. Logan College.
6. Development of tools and methods for evaluating Civic Engagement/Service Learning.
7. Promotion of Civic Engagement/Service Learning in the region.
8. Enhancement of John A. Logan College's leadership role in the field of Civic Engagement/Service Learning.

Objectives

1. Assessment and development of existing civic engagement/service learning opportunities at John A. Logan College to: Establish baseline of current activities; Identify networks of community stakeholders involved in these activities; Develop and recruit leadership for program development; Describe strengths and weakness of current programming. This assessment will take the form of interviewing faculty currently utilizing Civic Engagement/ Service Learning, as well as the organizations (stake holders) they serve. Interview questions will focus on descriptions of these projects, assessing strengths and weakness of such projects and examining how such projects are currently being evaluated by faculty, students and service recipients. Interview questions will also address how reflection on issues such as stewardship, ethics, and diversity are incorporated into the projects. Ideas will be solicited for building the Initiative.
2. Identification and discussion of existing institutional planning and evaluation tools as they relate to the development of a Civic Engagement/Service Learning Initiative, such as 2006 Nominal Group Evaluation of John A. Logan College's Educational Goal 6 --Community Responsibility.
3. Review of JALC organizational structure to assess roles of various campus groups (departments, committees, student services/clubs, unions . . . .) in the development of an Initiative. Prioritize those groups key to building an Initiative.
4. Identification and research of Civic Engagement/Service Learning: Organizations; examples of "best practices;" professional development opportunities; and innovation such as "research service learning" and international service learning.
5. Dissemination and discussion of institutional assessment of current Civic Engagement/Service Learning policies and practices, as well as, research findings.