At the CASL Office we value our Service-Learning students very highly.  After all, without interested students and committed faculty we would not have jobs.  Thankfully, at Missouri State we have increasing numbers of students interested in and taking part in service-learning, and a very supportive faculty.  Something new that CASL is endeavoring to do in an effort to give more support and opportunities to our service-learning students is hosting a Service-Learning Academy.  This series of four events is aimed at coordinating more closely with our students and keeping them in touch with our office to help them get even more out of their servic

The kickoff event was a Service-Learning Networking Mixer sponsored in part by The New York Times.  The gathering of students, CASL officials, pizza, pop, and various New York Times paraphernalia took place the Thursday before Spring Break in the PSU East Ballroom.  All students present were able to grab some pizza, hear a few words about networking, and were able to then let loose and interact with each other to hone their skills and forge some valuable connections.    It was the first event of its kind hosted by CASL and we at the office have three more great events in store for our students this semester!e-learning placements to assist them after they complete their placement and their schooling.

The next event we’re having is a “Market Your Service-Learning Workshop” which is to be held on Monday March 24^th in Karls 102 from 3:15-5:00.  If you are a current or former service-learning student and interested in learning some strategies and tips on how to best sell your service-learning during your job hunt, we invite you to come join us!  There will be door prizes and free promo pieces courtesy of The New York Times to all attendees in addition to the helpful résumé writing hints provided.  A good résumé is the most important asset you can have in securing a job interview, and a placement through service-learning can help you stand out from other applicants.

Our third event for our students this semester is a “Service-Learning Success Story Meet & Greet” featuring a former CASL student and current Missouri State Bear, Nicole DelGiudice.  Nicole was a CASL student who had a service-learning placement with the Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield.  After the successful completion of her 40-hour component she was offered and accepted an internship with the Gillioz and she now works there in a paid position that has many exciting and fun perks associated with it.  CASL will be hosting the meet & greet with Nicole on Monday April 7^th from 4:00-5:00 at a location TBA.

The final event of CASL’s Service-Learning Academy (SLA) will be an event titled “Service-Learning and Beyond”.  This event, while still taking shape, will be a concluding combination of the three previous SLA events.   Students will again have opportunities to network, to employ tactics on how to market their service-learning, and to meet and interact with not only other service-learning students but community partner representatives and area professionals from various fields.  As the final event of the 2013-2014 Service-Learning Academy we hope that this will not only be an opportunity for us to thank and show appreciation for our students, but to also help them move onward and upward benefitting from their service-learning.

We hope that all students reading this can attend our Service-Learning Academy and provide our office with input as towhat we can do to better help you during the course of your placement and beyond.  Feel free to contact your advisor or stop into PSU 131 anytime to talk with us.  If no sooner, we hope you see you at one of our three remaining SLA events!

By Asher Allman 

“Market Your Service-Learning Workshop”

            Monday March 24^th     –      Karls 102      –     3:15-5:00

“Service-Learning Success Story Meet & Greet”

            Monday April 7^th      –    TBA      –     4:00-5:00

“Service-Learning and Beyond”

            TBA