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5:30 p.m., April 11, 2003--“UD already is a national leader in discovery-based learning, with model programs in undergraduate research, problem-based learning methods and study abroad. Service-based learning within the framework of academic instruction is another area that deserves study and implementation,” according to Provost Dan Rich.
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| Members of UD’s new Academic Council on Service-Based Learning (standing from left) are: April Veness, associate professor of geography; Pam Beeman, associate dean of health and nursing sciences; Kathleen Kerr, director of residence life; Joel Best, chairperson of sociology; Ed Freel, policy scientist in the Institute for Public Administration; Robin Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Timothy Barnekov, dean of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy; Jennifer Phillips, graduate student in individual and family studies; Martha Carothers, interim director of the Center for Teaching Effectiveness; and Provost Dan Rich. Seated (left to right) are Jack Townsend, director of career services; Deanna Forgione, a sophomore representing the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress; featured speaker at an April 10 University Forum Donald W. Harward, former UD chair of philosophy, founding director of what is now the University Honors Program and president emeritus of Bates College; and Bahira Sherif-Trask, associate professor of individual and family studies. Council member James O’Neill, director of the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship, is not pictured. |
To further this effort, Rich announced the establishment of an Academic Council on Service-Based Learning. The announcement was made at an April 10 University Forum, at which Donald W. Harward, a member of several boards of national educational, philanthropic and social service organizations, discussed liberal education and civic engagement.
Robin Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Timothy Barnekov, dean of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, are cochairing the council.
“The work of the new council will help to extend and integrate service-based learning within and across many academic programs. The council will recommend how we can support and develop service-learning opportunities that support academic objectives and enable students to recognize and practice the values of civic engagement and social and professional responsibility,” Rich said.
“The outcome of the council’s efforts will be enriched learning opportunities for our students. Learning is enhanced when students work with faculty to build connections between what they study in the classroom and what they experience directly through carefully designed and directed service-based programs in the community,” Rich said.
He pointed out that many UD programs already rely on academically grounded service learning in such areas as teacher education, nursing and child development. Other programs sponsor internships, practicums, field study and technical assistance projects for public, professional and community institutions.
For example, April Veness, associate professor of geography, has used service-based learning in her social geography classes. One year, her class participated in a cooperative town/gown clean-up of South College Avenue, and, last fall, students conducted interviews with various groups in the city of Newark and presented their findings at a town meeting.
“The new council will evaluate the service-based learning opportunities that are now available to students, recommend how these can be best supported and extended and propose new initiatives to create additional learning opportunities,” Rich said.
The council will be charged to focus on and make recommendations in four areas:
- A review of existing public, community and professional service-based learning initiatives at the University—how they are organized, promoted to students and communicated to the campus community and the community at large—and recommendations to make these efforts more effective;
- Recommendations for increasing the number and quality of service/academic experiences and providing opportunities for all students to have access to a service-based learning experience during their academic careers;
- Recommendations on opportunities to build partnerships among colleges, departments and other units that offer service/academic programs and for improving coordination of these activities and creating new partnerships on and beyond the campus; and
- Recommendations for incentives to increase service and service-based learning activities by students, faculty and staff.
Others serving on the council include Pam Beeman, associate dean of health and nursing sciences; Joel Best, chairperson of sociology; Martha Carothers, interim director of the Center for Teaching Effectiveness; Kathleen Kerr, director of residence life; Deanna Forgione, a sophomore representing the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress; Ed Freel, policy scientist in the Institute for Public Administration; James O’Neill, director of the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship; Jennifer Phillips, graduate student in individual and family studies; Bahira Sherif-Trask, associate professor of individual and family studies; Jack Townsend, director of career services; and Veness.
The council plans to meet during the 2003-04 academic year and make initial recommendations by October 2003.
Article by Sue Moncure
Photo by Kathy Flickinger
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