Office of Student Life: Community Service Learning Center
Address: 1110B Kirkhof Center
Website: gvsu.edu/service
Asst. Director: Valerie Jones
Phone: 616‐331‐2345
Twitter: @GV_Lead_Serv
Coordinator: Jeff Mutch
Facebook: Grand Valley Leadership and Service
E‐Mail: service@gvsu.edu
Creating Active Citizens
Mission Our mission is to prepare GVSU students to become citizens of a global society and challenge them to be committed to a life of community service as active citizens.
Strategic Goals • Continue to enhance student engagement and high impact experiences through partnerships with faculty, other departments, and the external community • Further clarify the CSLC’s role in the university’s strategic plan and identify role in High Impact Practices through the High Impact Task Force • Create and implement a support plan (facility, staffing, and financial resources) • Improve overall assessment and reporting practices, particularly assessment of LEAP outcomes for programs • Further develop faculty engagement in service learning and the role of CSLC Faculty Liaison • Continue tracking and reporting community service data to support MCC and Provost reporting requirements
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Extra‐curricular Service Learning & Community Service
Department Overview The CSLC serves as a clearinghouse for volunteering, community service, and servicelearning by: • Connecting students to opportunities to serve the community through centercoordinated opportunities (i.e. days of service) and matching students’ interests to community-identified needs. • Supporting faculty/staff in community service and service-learning activities through one-on-one consulting, regularly disseminating service-learning information and updates, and coordinating professional
•
development opportunities in conjunction with the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. Assisting local nonprofit organizations through disbursing service opportunities to the GVSU community.
Additionally, the CSLC supports over 40 service and advocacy registered student organizations, as well as provides guidance to any student organization planning service and philanthropy activities. We track service data for the university in conjunction with the Provost’s Office for state and national reporting.
Learning Outcomes Based on LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes, the CSLC mainly focuses on civic knowledge and responsibility. Participants of our direct service programs are exposed to education about the issue/cause and community and engage in reflective activities to discover how the experience impacts them personally and to draw connections and express realizations. The CSLC promotes transformational experiences which help students develop on an active citizen
continuum (defined by BreakAway®) from member of society not concerned with personal role in societal problems, to volunteer, consciousness citizen, to active citizen where the community becomes a priority in values and life choices. Other LEAP Essential learning outcomes used include foundations and skills for lifelong learning, critical thinking, intercultural knowledge and competence, and integrative learning.
Money Raised ‐ Reported to the CSLC $200,000.00
$156,703.25
$150,000.00 $98,512.00
$100,000.00 $50,000.00
$26,977.61
$‐ 2008‐2009
80000
62,767.82
Hours Reported to CSLC
60000 40000 20000
22148.5 10460
0 2008‐2009 2009‐2010 2010‐ 2011
Department Highlights • CSLC received dedicated space to open in gathering of faculty/staff across campus Winter 2006, however, GVSU has a long history interested or currently involved in service of serving our community learning. Updates from the CSLC are sent • Bi-weekly electronic newsletter disseminated to electronically on a bi-monthly basis and ad students hoc meetings are called as necessary • Faculty and staff recognition for community • Work collaboratively with the Heart of West service and service-learning (local and state Michigan United Way Volunteer Center level) • Michigan Campus Compact Community • AmeriCorps Michigan Service Scholars program Service/Service-Learning Director representative • Dedicated fund to assist with coordination of • Student leadership opportunities including faculty professional development for serviceCSLC Ambassador, Service & Leadership learning Intern (for academic credit or experience), site • Service-Learning Web Network (resources on a variety of service learning topics for faculty) leader for Make a Difference Day, and more. • Service-Learning Network– an informal
On‐Going Program
Traditions
Nonprofit Volunteer & Internship Fair each semester, First Year Service Experience, Overnight Service Experience, Make a Difference Day, College Positive Volunteer Training, Service and Advocacy Week, Community Outreach Week, and Service Saturdays (Hosted by Alternative Breaks).
Make a Difference Day- a national day of service, held the 4th Saturday in October. More than 300 students serve over 20 local nonprofit organizations throughout the Greater Grand Rapids community.
2011‐2012 Priorities • Continue delivery and assessment of quality volunteer and service opportunities • Implement an awareness campaign about the services of the Community Service Learning Center • Intentionally connect with Johnson Center for Philanthropy staff and initiatives • Continue to participate in discussions with the other area volunteer and service Directors during the transition from Volunteer Solutions to HandsOn Connect, a county-wide volunteer database of the Heart of West Michigan United Way Volunteer Center • Clarify the Community Service Learning Center’s role in supporting and strengthen the community service partnerships with living centers/campus apartments • Reach more than 300 students per semester through classroom presentations about Leadership and Service opportunities (Student Life- OSL Objective for DSS Strategic Plan)
Community Outreach Week- co-sponsored by Alumni Relations, a week of various community service projects hosted by students and alumni locally and across the country held annually in March
2009‐2010 2010‐ 2011
Division of Student Services – Grand Valley State University