The Service-Learning Institute provides faculty with an in-depth professional development opportunity to learn how to successfully integrate service into their curricula and ultimately serve as advocates for service-learning at UCA. This institute is designed to benefit faculty who wish to explore service-learning as a pedagogical tool in an intensive, in-depth manner, with the intent of implementing it into a specific academic course.
UCA faculty are invited to join us for the Service-Learning Institute June 23-27, 2025, which will prepare you to teach a new or redesigned service-learning course in the 2025-2026 academic year. You will be asked to complete some asynchronous readings and discussions prior to the summer program as part of the institute. Graduates of the Service-Learning Institute will also be designated as Service-Learning Faculty Fellows for the 2025-2026 academic year and will be paid a stipend for participation in the summer institute, along with daily catered lunches during the institute.
Visit the Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program webpage to learn more about the program and members of past cohorts.
Faculty Learning Objectives
As a result of participating in the Service-Learning Institute, you will be able to
- Discuss the historical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of service-learning pedagogies
- Identify how different types of service-learning and various community partnership opportunities can be applied across disciplines to achieve student learning outcomes
- Apply cultural humility and an asset-based approach to the creation of reciprocal partnerships between the university and community
- Establish a comprehensive plan for effectively planning a collaborative community-based project, including communication, orientation and training, risk management, shared decision-making, and contingencies
- Facilitate critical reflection that leads students to connect their service experiences to key academic concepts, skills, and ideas covered in the course
- Study the impact of service-learning through assessment, evaluations, and research, including conducting original community-engaged scholarship or scholarship of teaching and learning
- Implement a new or revised service-learning project in one or more of your courses
- Advocate for service-learning and civic engagement within your department, college, the university, and your field
Textbook
Welch, M. & Plaxton-Moore, S. (2019). The craft of community engaged teaching and learning: A guide for faculty development. Stylus Publishing.
Application Process
Applications will be accepted through Monday, April 14, 2025 and applicants will be notified by late-April. Submit your application online!