Project Title:
South Central’s Service, Work and Learning Center
Project Director and Other Associated Faculty and Staff:
Kathryn Rusch, Director, South Central Technical College, Contact: Kathryn.rusch@southcentral.edu, Tel.: (507)3897241
Project Design:
The new South Central Service, Work and Learning Center (SCSWLC) is designed to address the need for coordination of services, make modifications to existing course curriculum, incorporate service learning strategies and provide in-service training for faculty and staff to increase knowledge of service learning. The Center’s activities will include: (1) provide one point of entry for service learning requests, (2) College procedures will be developed, (3) a database of community service learning sites will be created, (4)training sessions for faculty and staff will be facilitated, (5) evaluation of student participation and learning will be conducted.
Project Evaluation and Outcomes:
During the 2004-2005 academic year, the SCSWLC was established and implemented the following: (1) Service learning forms have been developed and include code of conduct, pre- and post-assessment forms, site contract, (2) Three meetings and three training session have been planned and conducted for faculty and administrators and 18 faculty participated. (3) Small faculty stipends were provided to 6 faculty to offset curriculum modification time for faculty integrating service learning., (4) Resource books and materials have been purchased, (5) Two courses incorporating service learning were implemented in the Fall 2004 and two more were initiated in Spring 2005 (6) the Project Director traveled to Guatemala in January 2005 as part of a service learning team of 38 persons, (7) 240+ students enrolled in service learning experience in one their courses. (8) Over 20 community based organizations have partnered with SCC students and faculty in service learning projects throughout the ten county area.
Lessons Learned, Dissemination and Sustainability
Plans have been initiated for a Fall 2005 community service project between South Central and a regional Headstart Center to provide reading materials for 10 centers and provide a reading event. A panel presentation was organized and prepared by 5 faculty for the annual CTL conference in March 2005. A variety of service learning projects were implemented including: (1) dental assistants working in a free dental clinic in Madelia, (2) Desktop Publishing students working with area non-profit organizations designed and produced agency letterhead and other promotional materials, (3) Web Design students worked with area non-profits to design and update websites, (4) Medical lab technician students worked at area nursing homes and clinics (5) nursing students worked with local school districts’ school nurses.(6) speech pathology students worked one-on–one with persons who have disabilities.
