Faculty Fellows Service-Learning Seminar

Note:
For those not able to apply for the full Service-Learning Fellowship, an intensive three-morning seminar on community-engaged learning will be offered virtually December 17-19 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The intensive sessions will cover the basics of community-engaged learning, reflection, assessment, and partnerships. The full service-learning fellowship provides significantly more content, interaction, and support, plus community introductions, hands-on course and syllabi development, and $2400 compensation for course implementation. 

Service-Learning Faculty Fellows Program
Applications for full Spring 2025 program due Nov. 22

The Center for Community Engagement accepts 6 faculty each year to participate in the Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program, in which faculty meet weekly during the spring semester to learn about service-learning pedagogy and redesign an academic course to include a service-learning component.  Faculty Fellows receive $2400 to teach the initial service-learning course within two years of seminar completion.

Compensation
Faculty Fellows receive $2400 to teach the initial service-learning course which can either be paid as direct compensation to the faculty member (minus fringe benefits and taxes) or paid to the faculty member’s school (full amount). If opting for the school payment, faculty should work with their academic unit to determine if funding can be used for a course release or, alternatively, used for project supplies and travel. Service-Learning Fellowships are open to full-time USM faculty members at the rank of instructor and above.  

Schedule
The seminar is scheduled for a day/time based on participants' availability. With only 6 people in the cohort, this is difficult but doable.  

Week 1: Introduction: What is Service-Learning?
Week 2: Designing a Service-Learning Curriculum
Week 3: Building Strong Community Partnerships 
Week 4: Field Trip: Visiting Possible Community Partners 
Week 5: Reflection: The Bridge Between Experience and Learning  
Week 6: Preparing Students for Community Placements & Need for Orientation
Week 7:  Community-Engaged Research: What is it and How to do i? 
Week 8: Risk Management
Week 9: Syllabus Construction 
Week 10: Syllabus Workshop 
Week 11: Syllabus Workshop (con’t.)
Week 12:  How to Assess Service-Learning & Provide Closure to Students/Partners
Faculty Fellows Graduation during the CCE’s annual Spring Banquet 

Benefits of Faculty Fellows Program
Gain pedagogical training on a high-impact educational practice, access to community connections, and spend dedicated time on developing your curriculum. Most participants' favorite part is the interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. 

The Faculty Fellows program allows participants to: 

1. Explore together the theory and practice of service-learning 
2. Learn how service-learning can be used in a variety of disciplines
3. Examine effects of service-learning on students, faculty members, communities & community agencies, and the University 
4. Develop a network of faculty fellows on the USM campus to support each others’ endeavors, to explain service-learning to other faculty members and to be an advocate for service-learning in the University community
5. Explore publication, conference presentation, and grant opportunities in service-learning research

• October: Applications Available
• late November: Selection Notification
• January: Seminar Begins  

 What is Service-Learning? Learn more

• Relevant & Meaningful Service
• Enhanced Academic Learning
• Purposeful Civic Learning
• Balances the needs of students, academic content, and community-identified needs

• It’s a high-impact educational practice (Kuh, 2008)
• Students who participate in service-learning classes are more likely to complete degrees (Lockeman & Pelco, 2013)
• It positively affects students’
  • Understanding of social issues
  • Personal insight
  • Cognitive development (Yorio & Ye, 2011)