Experiential Education at MSU: Service Learning

Faculty - Responsibilities

Responsibilities of Faculty Fellows will occur in two phases: the Professional Development phase and the Implementation phase:

During the Professional Development phase Service-Learning Faculty Fellows are required to:
1) Participate in the fellows' spring workshops: In May, Fellows will participate in two day-long workshops that will focus on various aspects of Service-Learning including the philosophy, pedagogy and practice of Service-Learning and the components of MSU's Service-Learning model. The workshops will be facilitated by a member of the Campus Compact-AAHE Consultant Corps and MSU Service-Learning Scholars (senior Service-Learning Faculty Fellows).
2) Meet with a Service-Learning Scholar: During the summer and/or fall, a Service-Learning Scholar will meet one-on-one with each Faculty Fellow to help integrate the pedagogy and practices of Service-Learning into their syllabus and course objectives.
3) Participate in the Fellows' winter workshop: A second Service-Learning workshop will be conducted in January, prior to the start of the spring semester. The workshop will provide an opportunity for Fellows to submit a new or revised Service-Learning course syllabus and to participate in a workshop facilitated by a national leader in Service-Learning.

During the Implementation phase Faculty Fellows are required to:
1) Teach a Service-Learning course by the fall semester;
2) Assist with and participate in orientations, debriefing sessions, task force meetings, and student recognition events;
3) Conduct a minimum of one visit at each community partner site with which your Service-Learning course is aligned;
4) Attend one Service-Learning faculty meeting each semester; and
5) Assist with any program evaluation activities conducted by Service-Learning.

On a voluntary basis, Faculty Fellows are encouraged to:
a) Produce a scholarly product associated with their Service-Learning activities;
b) Work collaboratively with a community partner to address an identified issue;
c) Generate a "professional portfolio" that documents their Service-Learning activities, which can be used in the process of reappointment, tenure, promotion and range changes;
d) Attend Service-Learning professional conferences;
e) Participate in MSU's Service-Learning campus wide events such as brown bag lunches.

Characteristics of a Service-Learning Course:
Service-Learning courses engage students in active, collaborative, and academically-based experiential learning activities that meet identified community needs. Each course provides opportunities for students to reflect on the service experience to gain a better understanding of the course content and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility. Faculty Fellows can teach Service-Learning courses in an issue area associated with their own interest and discipline and with community partners with whom they have established a partnership.

To apply, click here.