Information for Faculty

Why is UMM Committed to Service-Learning?

• Service-Learning is one way UMM fulfills its mission as a public, land grant institution that serves its community.
• Service-Learning enhances UMM's core liberal arts mission by deepening students' understanding of the interconnectedness of diverse theories, knowledge and skills.
• Service-Learning is one response to the university president's call to deepen civic learning and engagement for our students.

What is the History of Course Based Service-Learning at UMM?

Service-learning got its start on the Morris Campus in the summer of 1994 with the creation of the Morris Campus Compact office. To view the history of service learning at UMM, click here

Since that time, courses in all four divisions have included service components. Click Here to view a history of Service Learning Courses at UMM

In 2000, UMM received a Learn and Serve America grant to deepen the practice of service learning, and more than 20 faculty incorporated service learning into existing UMM courses.

In 2003, UMM received a second Learn and Serve America grant to further institutionalize service learning bycreating a series of ongoing, multi-discipline, multi-class service learing experiences related to four initiatives:

• Arts and Culture Opportunities
• Elder Partnerships
• Youth Mentorship
• Regional, Sustainable Agriculture

These initiatives grew out of community needs identified by community partners and build on the interests of students and faculty in multiple disciplines.

As of fall 2007, the service-learning program is revising and expanding on the original four initiatives to better represent the projects the program has been involved in and to reflect the needs of the community. The present initiatives are:

• Social Responsibility
• Arts and Culture
• Elder Partnerships
• Sustainable Living
• Youth Partnerships


How Can Service Learning Staff Help?

Service learning staff assist faculty in making connections with community partners, planning projects and course syllabi and reflection activities, planning and providing pre-service training and reflection opportunities in and outside the classroom, handling all logistics related to the project, and assessing the effect of service learning on students and the community. We also assist faculty in developing research projects related to their work in service learning.

To view the Faculty Fellows Manual, click here.

To view Tenure and Promotion documents, click here.

See a current copy of the Community Needs List. Word doc or pdf


Other Programs Supporting Civic Engagement

• The Center for Small Towns
  
• The Community Service and Volunteerism Program
• U of M Regional Partnerships
• The Faculty Center for Learning and Teaching, and
  
• Morris Area Community Education


Faculty interested in finding out more about service learning at University of Minnesota can contact Service-Learning Coordinator Argie Manolis by e-mail at manolis@morris.umn.edu, or by phone at 320-589-6257 or 320-589-6271.