Your fall schedule settled, now consider Service-Learning!

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 00:13:35 -0400

Service-Learning at The Shriver Center has very active partnerships, which continue to grow. Last year, the Service-Learning Team connected with 74 partners on and off campus through weekly service and intentional reflective activities. Last year (FY16), through data collected through UMBCworks (Student Self Evaluations and Placement Evaluations), students reported:

70% agreed that their ability to view their career expectations realistically increased as a result of their applied learning experience;

74% indicated that they applied their education to their applied learning experience;

80% indicated that their self-confidence increased as a direct result of their applied experience;

86% indicated that their ability to solve problems increased as a result of their applied learning experience;

86% agreed that participating in applied learning helped them to grow as a leader;

90% indicated that their awareness of civic responsibilities increased as a direct result of their applied experience;

93% recommend an internship/work/co-op-research/service placement to another student.

This semester alone, we've added @ 10 partners to include Patterson Park Audobon Center, Meade Senior High School's AVID Program, and the Choice Program's Education Team at Ben Franklin High School. Each year, we receive more requests from nonprofits and schools to host enthusiastic and talented UMBC students at their organizations. UMBC students and faculty facilitate some of these new partnerships. Attached you will find the 096 Community Service & Learning Practicum Syllabus which outlines expectations.

Several community partners have significant openings - all can be found on the attached Service Chart. For the most part, when it is stated "Monday-Thursday," OR "Monday and Wednesday," it means the site operates Monday through Thursday, or you can choose to serve either Monday or Wednesday, NOT that you have to volunteer all of those days:

• Walden Circle: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday

• The Commodore to College Project: Monday-Thursday, 1:45-4pm; Friday, 1:30-3:30 pm

• Paul's Place: Monday-Thursday, 3-5 pm

• Young Explorers at Lakeland Elementary/Middle School: Monday-Thursday, 2:30-6 pm -PAID FELLOWSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE FOR MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS - SEE ATTACHMENT

• The Choice Program's Education Team at Ben Franklin High School AND Lakeland Elementary/Middle School

• Weinberg Housing and Resource Center

• Baltimore Community ToolBank

• Great Kids Farm

The Fall 2016 Service Chart, which goes into detail about all of the aforementioned sites. Some of these sites have transportation (travel time built in), some do not. Some of these sites are closed, based on capacity and/or timing of orientation. This includes Best Buddies, Saint Agnes Hospital, Saturday BARCS, and Esperanza Center (as a group). This chart will be updated at http://shrivercenter.umbc.edu/096-community-service-learning-practicum/ . In some cases, you can contact the program leads directly.

The FALL 096 Prac registration ends WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH. The Shriver Center is located on the 1st floor of the Public Policy Building, just past the elevators), 8:30am-5pm, or call. We will do our best to accommodate drop ins.