02/19/15
Service learning -- where the community, state and the world at large become part of the curricula -- will be celebrated at Fort Hays State University during the week of Feb. 23 to Feb. 27.

This is the second annual Service-Learning Week at FHSU, sponsored by the university's Service-Learning Committee, which has planned activities throughout the week to introduce service learning; provide faculty with ideas for implementing service learning into their course curriculum; and, present a variety of resources available to expand service learning on campus, throughout the community, and abroad.

"Service learning is a strategic initiative at FHSU," said Dr. Kathy Kelley, assistant professor of communication studies and committee chair. "The week is to tell the campus and community what service learning is and what it looks like at Fort Hays State University."

The week will include a workshop with five sessions, a Q&A session, some give-a-ways in the Memorial Union and a reception with community partners at the end of the week.

The primary public event is the reception, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, in the Memorial Union's Stouffer Lounge, which will close the week. The reception is an opportunity for campus and community service-learning partners to visit with each other.

"Our hope is that bringing faculty and community members together will inspire faculty to see the possibilities for service learning in their disciplines and will encourage community members to see how they can benefit," said Kelley.

At this reception, applications will be available for the funding opportunities that will assist faculty in developing service-learning courses. Applications will also be available for the Provost's Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program

Beneficiaries of work performed by FHSU students as part of their service-learning course work have included such entities as:

-- Thomas More Prep-Marian High School
-- CASA of the High Plains Inc.
-- Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

-- Batterer Intervention Program
-- The High Plains Electro Rally sponsored by FHSU's Institute of Applied Technology.
-- Jana's Campaign Inc. for the prevention of domestic violence.
-- Habitat for Humanity
-- Humane Society of the High Plains
-- Larned Community Garden
-- Camp Pawnee, Larned
-- Dan Rupp Park, Hays
-- Sunrise Park, Hays
-- After-school programs, Hays and Victoria
-- Big Creek, Smoky Hill River watersheds
-- Greensburg Fairgrounds
-- Hays Area Children's Center
-- St. John's New Horizons Assisted Living Center, Hays
-- Main Street flower planters, Hays
-- Friends of Hays Dog Park
-- Ellis County

Other activities and events for the week:

On Monday, Feb. 23, faculty will receive materials describing service learning and how it can make it a positive impact on course design. Faculty, said Kelley, will also be able to learn about opportunities to receive funding to help design service-learning courses, or apply to be a Provost's Faculty Fellow.

The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24. Five sessions will define service learning, present funding opportunities for implementing service-learning projects, and presentations by FHSU faculty from each of the colleges that demonstrate how service-learning projects enhance student learning objectives for specific disciplines.

All sessions will be in the union's Stouffer Lounge. The workshop schedule:

• 9-10 a.m. -- What is service learning? Funding opportunities to promote service-learning, presented by Kelley and Dr. Tamara Lynn, assistant professor of justice studies.

• 10-10:30 a.m. -- Service Learning in the College of Education and Technology, presented by Dr. Valerie Zelenka, assistant professor of teacher education, Eric Deneault, assistant professor of applied technology, and Dr. Beth Walizer, associate professor of teacher education.

• 10:30-11 a.m. -- Service Learning in the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, presented by Dr. Stacey Smith, associate professor of management and marketing and director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management Program.

• 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. -- Service Learning in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented by Dr. Kim Perez, chair of the Department of History; Dr. Juti Winchester, assistant professor of history; Dr. Leo Herrman, associate professor of psychology; and Dr. Krisztina Bencze, assistant professor of chemistry.

• 12:30-1 p.m. -- Service Learning in the College of Health and Life Sciences, presented by Dr. Joyce Ellis, associate professor of health and human performance, and Dr. Jean Gleichsner, associate professor of agriculture.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, will feature the come-and-go Q&A Session for faculty from 11 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. outside the union's Starbucks. The session will be led by instructors who have implemented service learning in their courses and will feature students who have participated in service-learning projects.

"They will be able to talk about how service learning has impacted them," said Kelley.

An interactive faculty panel on "Best Practices in Online Service Learning" will be from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in Hammond Hall, room 238. A limited number of spots are available to hear from faculty who have implemented service learning in their online courses. This session will also highlight how projects promoted in on-campus classes can easily be implemented online, said Kelley.

Lunch will be provided so faculty attendance at this session is limited to those who register in advance on Conduit, the online forum for FHSU faculty.

For more information, contact Kelley, kmkelley3@fhsu.edu, or Lynn, tjlynn@fhsu.edu.