Promoting Service-Learning through an Interdisciplinary and Decentralized Faculty Fellow Program

Authors

Shannon Cummins, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Mitzi J. Ritzman, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Jodi Benenson, University of Nebraska at Omaha
C. Cecilia Tocaimaza-Hatch, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Andrea MM Weare, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

Weare - https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9208-1455

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-25-2023

Publication Title

Metropolitan Universities

Volume

34

Issue

4

First Page

88

Last Page

106

DOI

10.18060/26514

Abstract

The adoption of service and community-based learning can be a challenge across college campuses. Some units or departments might embrace the approach, while others believe it cannot be done in their discipline. Despite being shown to offer benefits for learning and retention, recruiting faculty participation in service and community-based learning (SL/CBL) can be challenging. This article describes the origination and first two years’ outcomes of a decentralized Faculty Fellows Program (FFP) across six colleges at a metropolitan university. After collaborating with college administration to determine priorities, the first cohort of faculty recruited for the FFP was tasked with serving as a resource for fellow college faculty/staff. This paper utilizes the fellows’ end-of-year reports organized around priorities and goals, activities planned or undertaken, and the fellow’s reflections of the year to conduct a qualitative analysis. Results show the FFP allowed an individualized approach to address goals, determine tactics, and achieve outcomes across college units and offers an opportunity for implementation at any university because of its decentralized structure and ability to adjust to the needs of any specific college or unit.

Comments

This is an open access article published under the Creative Commons Attribution License https://journals.indianapolis.iu.edu/index.php/muj/article/view/26514/25004

Recommended Citation

Cummins, Shannon; Ritzman, Mitzi J.; Benenson, Jodi; Tocaimaza-Hatch, C. Cecilia; and Weare, Andrea MM, "Promoting Service-Learning through an Interdisciplinary and Decentralized Faculty Fellow Program" (2023). Communication Faculty Publications. 102.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/commfacpub/102

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.