Service-Learning: A Powerful Curricular Tool to Engage and

Build Community

Larry Thacker, MEd, Director Student Success, Retention, and Career ServicesConnie Theriot, PhD, Counselor EducatorMark Tichon, PhD, Counselor Educator

Lincoln Memorial University

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

- Mohandas Gandhi

LMU Student Service Initiative What is the LMU Student Service Initiative?

Broadens horizons through community service. Designed to grow better appreciations of the importance of

volunteerism Opportunities in co-curriculum learning A personal and organizational impact on the larger world.  

Who Participates in the Program? History of the Student Service Initiative

Initiated in 2004 by University Advancement Administered by Student Services since 2006. Yearly growth since inception

Find additional resources at: http://www.lmunet.edu/campuslife/initiative/index.shtml New Community Service Pathway Pages (LMU Intranet)

LMU Student Service Initiative How Does the Program Work?

Students are required to participate in 10 hours of community service learning each semester

Preferably related to their academic field of study The Student Service Initiative excludes internships and payable

services What are the Program's Advantages?

Career Path Knowledge The Gift of Time and Energy Experience / Networking / Real World Connections Personal Development Challenging the Comfort Zone

LMU Student Service Initiative Example Settings Available in the LMU Community

Nursing homes and hospitals United Way Sports: AYSO soccer, Little League, Special Olympics Salvation Army Relay for Life Beautification Projects Relay for Life

How is SSI promoted? Registrations / Orientations Departmental / Class promotion Frequent email reminders / Pathway updates / Referrals to website Walk-in questions Distributing hardcopy SSI forms for completion by end of semester / flyer

distribution UACT 100: Strategies for College Success Course group work

LMU Student Service Initiative - Participation Fall 2008 Participating Students: 333 Hours: 4,864 Spr 2009 Participating Students: 223 Hours: 2,612

Target: 1,124 Eligible Year Total: 7,478

Fall 2009 Participating Students: 467 Hours: 6,691 Spr 2010 Participating Students: 297 Hours: 4,326

Target: 1,269 Eligible Year Total: 11,017

Fall 2010 Participating Students: 718 Hours: 10,598 Spr 2011 Participating Students: 485 Hours: 5,892

Target: 1,486 Eligible Year Total: 16,490

LMU Student Service Initiative -Chart of Recent Participation

Fall 06 Fall 07 Fall 2008 Sp 2009 Fall 2009 Sp 2010 Fall 2010 Sp 20110

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Students

Students

LMU Student Service Initiative - Challenges While many students participate in strict service learning,

many simply perform important community service in the region, either with organizations with which they are already associated or with groups they search out. On Campus – Trail / Campus Clean-ups, SCOOP Day, Earth

Day, Lincoln Ambassadors, Campus Tours, Preview Days, departmental volunteering, Heal Haiti Bake Sale / Silent Auction, RAM clinics, Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Festival

Off Campus – Faith Groups and Churches, Relay For Life, Food Drives / Pantries, Animal Shelters, Senior Centers, ROHO, City Events, Fall Festivals, Fund Raising Runs / Walks

True service learning opportunities for every student Improved participation via communication / Pathway Co-Curricular initiatives

LMU Student Service InitiativePathway Pages

LMU Intranet, single stop point for campus community

The new community service pages features weekly community service postings, rather than posting on a website

A thorough list of regional organizations, links, contact numbers for student initiated inquiries

LMU Student Service Initiative -Collaboration with Counseling Program

Goals and Objectives of Counseling Program

Resources of Student Success, Retention, and Career Services Office

Needs of the Appalachian Community

Encourages opportunities for Civic Engagement and Authentic Learning infused into Curriculum

Service Learning and Counseling - ACA Advocacy Competencies

American Counseling Association Advocacy Competencies (ACA, 2003)a) Empowering clients by helping them build advocacy skillsb) Negotiating relevant services to help clients access resourcesc) Building collaborative relationships with relevant community

agencies to address these challengesd) Implementing systems-level advocacy initiativese) Communicating relevant information to the publicf) Engaging in social/political advocacy

79% of Counseling leaders believe advocacy to be important (Myers & Sweeney, 2004), yet…

Many Counselors lack training in advocacy information and skills (Myers, Sweeney, & White, 2002)

Service Learning and Counseling - Infusion into Counseling Curriculum at LMUService Learning Initiative has been incorporated

into Counseling Programs at Lincoln Memorial University as a powerful curricular toolService Learning Experiences in Four Courses:

CG 521 - Career Counseling CG 531 - Social and Cultural Aspects of Counseling CG 593 - Counseling Practicum CG 621 – Consultation and Crisis Intervention

Experiences are designed to be sequential and developmental in nature, culminating in a Capstone Consultation

Service Learning and Counseling

Examples of Student Projects at LMU

Service Learning on Your Campus -Facilitated Small Group Activity

Sources Cited American Counseling Association (ACA, 2003). Advocacy Competencies.

Alexandria, VA: Author. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://www.counseling.org/Resources/Competencies/Advocacy_Competencies.pdf

Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2004). Advocacy for the counseling profession: Results of a national survey. Journal of Counseling and Development, 82, 466-471.

Myers, J. E., Sweeney, T. J., & White, V. E. (2002). Advocacy for counseling and counselors: A professional imperative. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80, 394-402.