Service Learning

Cindy Pedersen

Facilitates development and implementation of service components to regular academic offerings.

Specific responsibilities:

Explain service learning to classes
Bridge communication between faculty, students and service site personnel
Monitor student placements
Works in community to develop appropriate partnerships with community agencies that will be service recipients
Organizes agency on-site orientation and training
Monitors evaluation by students and/agency at conclusion of semesters
Keeps records of numbers of hours/sites students serve.

Domestic Semester Abroad: This was an experience she had at U. of MN. Morris. It was a full semester in Rio Grande Valley. Students (she) taught days in San Juan public schools and lived in an apartment complex. There were about 6 or so students (mix of elementary and secondary students) and about 30 student teachers. M-R a.m. was spent in classrooms. Those afternoons were in course work (they took 3 courses from 1-5 in afternoon). Fridays were dedicated to learning about the community. They kept a scrapbook/portfolio of experiences. Faculty stayed some distance away in a Snow Bird Community.

Urban Plunges: Service Learning office organizes some of these. Funding for these comes from Pastoral Office- Campus Ministry. Service Learning office has stepped back from these plunges because they require intensive preparation.