What Is Academic Service-Learning?
Academic Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection as a means fo helping students gain a deeper understanding of course objectives, acquire new knowledge and engage in civic activity.
What is Engaged Scholarship?
Engaged Scholarship involves the faculty member in a reciprocal partnership with the community, is interdisciplinary, and integrates faculty roles of teaching, research, and service. While there is variation in current terminology (public scholarship, scholarship of engagement, community-engaged scholarship), engaged scholarship is defined by the collaboration between academics and individuals outside the academy - knowledge professionals and the lay public (local, regional/state, national, global) - for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. - David Scobey, Harvard Center for Community Partnerships, Bates College
The mission of the EMU Office of Academic Service-Learning & Engaged Scholarship is to build an infrastructure that will supports students, faculty, administrators, and community members in their efforts to implement academic service-learning foster community engaged scholarship. The Office of Academic Service-Learning provides several services to its constituents:
- Faculty Fellow Seminars are offered each fall and winter. Five to Six selected faculty are released quarter-time to participate in a semester-long weekly seminar. Fellows learn academic service-learning theory, implementation and assessment.
- A Resource Center located in the Office of Academic Service-Learning provides journals, books and other publications related to academic service-learning. A number of electronic resources are also available through the office via the Internet.
- Workshops and Seminars are also available through our Office. These events provide faculty with strategies to help implement academic service-learning in courses and to conduct community-based action research.
- Roundtables –Yearly roundtables in collaboration with community members. Roundtables seek to address issues and opportunities between community and university entities and individuals.
- Community Panels –twice a year, community panels with representatives from community organizations government entities and university outreach programs are held and open to any current or prior AS-L fellow. The community panels are intended to increase awareness of community as faculty to develop AS-L courses and integrate community within their scholarship and research.
- Training and Technical Support is available to regional and national, and international, K-12 and higher education institutes
- Community Partners are identified and fostered with the assistance of office staff. Interested faculty can work with the office to contact and partner with agencies and community sites. A database with profiles of available sites is maintained by the office.
- Research Opportunities are available for faculty and students through the office. Information on current research, publishing opportunities, and conference presentations is also available. Staff assistance is provided for data collection and literature reviews.
- CAS-L Grant Opportunities are available through the Office of Academic Service-Learning. Keep informed about grants pertaining to academic service-learning and engaged scholarship.
- Networking is available through our Office. Faculty have the opportunity to meet one on one and discuss important decisions about your courses, find valuable information, share ideas and keep up to date on any news events. Through this interaction, faculty from partnerships and supportive networks and engage in collaborative scholarship.
Outreach Programs
The Office of Academic Service-Learning has also developed several grant-based programs to serve the youth and community of Ypsilanti. Among these programs are:
Contact Information
Jessica "Decky" Alexander
Director, Office of Academic Service-Learning
219 Rackham
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti MI 48197
734.487.6570
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