I'd like to echo some of the previous comments in favor of integrated
structures for campus service programs - one that COMBINES curricular and
co-curricular streams of service. To our students AND to our communities (a
portion of the service equation no one thus far has really mentioned in
this thread) the best structure is one that:
a) creates less confusion for students and the community about which office
is the primary source of student referrals, placement, training, etc.
b) doesn't have to compete (on or off campus) for funding, resources,
relationships with agencies, or even media attention with other campus
departments that have a similar mission.
c) effectively collaborates in furthering each others mission to serve
students and the community. In other words it natuarally encourages
students who become interested in service from either perspective - be it
student affairs (co-curricularor) or academics (curricular) - to further
explore their involvement through the other perspective as well.
Whenever we consider structures for our service programs we need to
remember that it is not just an issue that has implications within the
hedges of our own campuses. We need to be mindful how structure will
influence our relationships and our ability to have impact in the community
as well.
In Service,
Lloyd Jacobson
National Programs Director
Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL)
*************************************************************
* It's COOL to Serve! *
* C.O.O.L. - Campus Outreach Opportunity League *
* *
* Founded in 1984, COOL is a national non-profit *
* organization working to encourage, support and expand *
* campus-based community service efforts. *
* COOL's mission is to educate and empower students *
* to strengthen our nation through service. *
* *
* For more information contact us at: *
* 1511 K Street, NW, Suite 307 *
* Washington, DC 20005 *
* (202)637-7004 phone *
* (202)637-7021 fax *
* E-Mail: homeoffice@COOL2SERVE.org *
* Web Site: http://www.COOL2SERVE.org *
*************************************************************
>This structural question presents a great opportunity to look at ways to
>integrate the academic and affairs sides. The Carlson Center at the
>University of Washington is a unit of Undergraduate Education (academic)
>and reports to the dean, but we work closely with folks on the affairs
>side, for example, financial aid, career center, etc. In general, I doubt
>students think of their college experience in terms of the
>academic/affairs polarity; their holistic perception can give all of us
>direction. Kim Johnson Bogart
>
>On Fri, 31 Jan 1997 brucespector@juno.com wrote:
>
>> As Victoria Keller and Col. State, we at Trinity College of Vermont have
>> a Community Service-Learning program that includes a broad continuum of
>> programs, from "volunteerism" to integrated service-learning in many
>> courses, and we report to Student Life (formal program began in 1987). I
>> would appreciate copies of replies to Victoria concerning how else to do
>> it, specificially so as to increase what are good - but could be much
>> stronger - connections to academic affairs.
>>
>> Bruce Darwin Spector
>> Director, Community Service-Learning & Leadership
>> Trinity College of Vermont, Burlington, Vt. 05401
>> (802) 658-0337, ext. 331
>> BruceSpector@juno.com
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 8 Jan 97 11:45:35 -0700 "Victoria Keller"
>> <VKeller@vines.ColoState.EDU> writes:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >Greetings Service/Higher ed colleagues:
>> >
>> >I am writing with a request for information re: campus governance of
>> >projects
>> >that are integrating service into curriculum.
>> >The Office of Community Services at Colorado State University has
>> >reported to
>> >the Division of Student Affairs since 1975. We offer students, faculty
>> >and
>> >community members projects all along the continuum of service - from
>> >traditional volunteerism, extra-curricular service-learning to service
>> >
>> >integrated into academic study.
>> >
>> >We are currently considering the merit(s) of developing dual reporting
>> >lines
>> >to both Student and Academic Affairs or of breaking off our project
>> >that
>> >links service with academic study to a home within Academic Affairs.
>> >In particular, we would like to learn what others have experienced as
>> >the
>> >pro's and cons of reporting to Academic Affairs - particularly if your
>> >campus
>> >also offers a well developed extra-curricular Service Center.
>> >If you have both academic and extra-curricular service "Centers", how
>> >do they
>> >communicate, coordinate, collaborate?
>> >
>> >Thank you in advance for any information you are able to provide.
>> >Please
>> >feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone.
>> >
>> >Best Wishes,
>> >
>> >Victoria Keller
>> >Director
>> >Office of Community Services
>> >Colorado State University
>> >vkeller@vines.colostate.edu
>> >(970)491-0444
>> >
>>