Awards for Service-Learning

(Update 10-4-07)

Announcing the Service Alliance
Faculty Fellows for 2007 - 2008

Ten faculty were named Clemson University Service Alliance Faculty Fellows for 2007-2008. The Fellows Program is a program for faculty interested in exploring issues related to service-learning and community-based research. These faculty receive a $1200 stipend, will conduct faculty workshops on service-learning and community-based research through the Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation, and will also serve as a resource for other faculty interested in utilizing service-learning in their classroom or developing a community-based research design. Representation comes from all five collleges. The faculty are:

Brenda Vander Mey - Professor, Sociology
Catherine Mobley - Associate Professor, Sociology
Clementina Adams - Professor, Languages
Teddi Fishman - Assistant Professor, English
Angela Rogers - Lecturer, English
Janet Craig- Assistant Professor, Nursing
Roxanne Amerson - Lecturer, Nursing
John Kaup - Lecturer, Chemistry
John DesJardins - Senior Lecturer, Bioengineering
Vivian Haley- Zitlin - Associate Professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition

L to R: Front: Angie Rogers, English; Clementina Adams, Languages; Brenda VanderMey, Sociology; Catherine Mobley, Sociology; Back: John Desjardins, Bioengineering, John Kaup, Chemistry. Missing, Roxanne Amerson, Nursing; Janet Craig, Nursing; Teddi Fishman, English; and Vivian Haley- Zitlin, Food Science and Human Nutrition.

Also Announce Service Learning Advocate Award for 2007 --

This award is presented to a Clemson faculty or staff member who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to service-learning as part of the Clemson student experience. This can be done via classroom projects, community partnerships, and/or advising student organizations. Nominees demonstrate a desire to go "above and beyond" expectations, creating transformative learning experiences for students through participation in community service projects and activities.

Winner: Dr. Patricia Knowles, Associate Professor of Marketing

Each year, Dr. Knowles has her MKT 429 & 629 Non-profit Marketing class partner with a local non-profit or charitable organization to conduct a strategic market analysis and marketing plan for the organization. Dr. Knowles and her class have assisted such organizations as The Arts Center, Goodwill Business Support Services, Clemson Community Care, and the Anderson Oconee Council on Teen Pregnancy Prevention. To quote her nominator, " I believe that Prof. Knowles service-learning projects and their impact on the community has been truly exceptional. The effort requires hundreds of hours and quietly goes on semester after semester with little if any recognition from the University.... Through the analysis, recommendations, and training provided by Professor Knowles class, these organizations have been able to offer additional services, raise more funds, and do so with a more efficient and refined business approach. Organizations have grown and prospered because of Clemson University Service-learning by the MKT 427 Nonprofit Marketing class."

CLEMSON CAUSE AWARD

The winner of the Clemson CAUSE Award for 2007-08 was the Client-Based Writing Program in the Department of English.

In its first five years, the Client-Based Writing Program has brought together 108 sections of business and technical writing (more than 2,300 students) with 25 writing faculty and 47 different clients.  As part of their class, students produce communication deliverables (documents, websites, etc.) for clients. Clients are primarily non-profits focusing on issues such as food and shelter for the poor, health care, the environment, the arts, and education. The program has also served government agencies and public schools. Recent clients have included Anderson County DHEC, Anderson County Museum, Anderson Emergency Food Bank, Anderson Free Clinic, Anderson Sunshine House, Betty Griffin House, Cancer Association of Anderson, City of Clemson, Clean Start, Clemson Elementary School, Code Elementary School, Concerned Citizens for Animals, Dining for Women, Foothills Conservancy for the Performing Arts, Greenville County Library, Greenville Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Hope Academy, Keep America Beautiful, Littlejohn Community Center, Pickens County YMCA, South Carolina Urban and Community Forestry Program, and Upstate South Carolina Red Cross. Students in the program have produced more than 700 deliverables for their clients. These deliverables range from white papers and research reports to fact sheets and brochures, from poster presentations and instruction manuals to web sites, multimedia presentations, and radio, TV, and print advertisements. The program is also the winner of the 2007-08 South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Service-Learning award. The program is under the direction of English faculty Summer Smith-Taylor (slsmith@clemson.edu)  and Laurie Brown-Pressly (lbrownp@clemson.edu).

Criteria
The Clemson CAUSE Award is an honor given to in recognition of departmental accomplishment in the fields of service- learning and community based research.  Both graduate and undergraduate programs are eligible. Nominations should emphasize recent (within last 3 years) achievements involving service-learning and community-based research – particularly programs/initiatives that could serve as a model for other departments or units. The nomination should emphasize specific results related to student learning outcomes, extent/nature of faculty involvement in the program, support received from the greater community, and information on community impact of the program.

Nomination Process
Departments wishing to apply for the 2009 award should submit the following to the  Clemson Service Alliance, 214 Barre Hall by January 7, 2009

• a nominating letter of no more than one page from the appropriate dean, department chair, or unit head stating how the department supports the goals and purpose of  service-learning and community-based research;
• a description of the program or initiative ( no more than 3 pages ) to include:
• date of the program’s inception;
• the approximate number of students who have participated and their majors (if initiative is interdisciplinary);
• a list of courses involved and the number of times those courses have been offered over the life of the program; and  
• the names of the principal faculty members involved
• copies of relevant program materials ( class syllabi, publications/reports, etc);
• supporting documents: faculty vitae, student evaluations, letters of support from community partners and students;
• Statement on how the department/ unit plans to use the award money to further program work.

For more information or assistance, please contact:
Kathy Woodard,
Clemson University Service Alliance
214 Barre Hall
ckathy@clemson.edu
(864) 656-0205

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SERVICE ALLIANCE
SERVICE-LEARNING FACULTY FELLOWS PROGRAM

The Clemson University Service Alliance would like to invite you to apply to be a 2008-2009 Service-learning Faculty Fellow. Service Alliance Faculty Fellows will be a part of a learning community that explores issues related to service-learning and community-based research and will also serve as a resource for other faculty interested in utilizing service-learning in their classroom or developing a community-based research design.

Up to fifteen faculty will be selected from a variety of academic disciplines for the 2008-2009 academic year. Fellows can either be experienced service-learning faculty/ community-based researchers or faculty interested in developing a service-learning course or a course involving students in community- based research.

Service Alliance Fellows will receive a $1200 stipend in return for the following:

• Teaching at least one course utilizing service-learning or community-based research during the period of their one year fellowship.
• Conducting a 90 minute service-learning workshop or participating in roundtable or panel discussion during the year through the Office of Teaching Effectiveness & Innovation
• Serving as a consultant and mentor to faculty in designing and revising courses to include a service-learning component.
• Assisting with student learning assessment and program evaluation involving both campus and community partners

This is a competitive application process. Candidates should demonstrate – primarily through teaching of quality service-learning or community-based research courses – the potential to advance Clemson’s Service-learning Program. However, any faculty member interested in promoting service-learning as an instructional tool is encouraged to apply.

Selection is based upon:

• The applicant’s curriculum vitae – evaluated for quality and integrated teaching, research, and service experience.
• Brief statement describing what the applicant hopes to gain professionally from involvement in the Service Alliance Faculty Fellows Program
• Brief statement on the applicant’s experience with service- learning and community- based research

Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Clemson University Service Alliance. Recommendations will be forwarded to the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture for final decisions.

Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2008.
Notification of selection by Friday, May 30, 2008.

Applications and any questions should be directed to:
Kathy Woodard
Clemson Service Alliance Faculty Fellows Program
214 Barre Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-0124
E-mail: ckathy@clemson.edu

Link to application for Service Alliance Faculty Fellow