What an incredible spring 2014 semester it has been for Missouri State University and the Citizenship and Service-Learning Office! Students contributed at least 19,000 hours of service to the Springfield community, impacting multiple facets of our community, including children, environment, health care, homelessness, and many more. Here's what some service-learning students had to say about their experiences: I would have to say that service learning was one of my favorite things I have done this entire school year. On top of helping others, I met so many amazing individuals. The director and I were extremely close and I found out how she started at Crosslines. Bambie called herself a trouble maker but is now a recovering meth addict who has been clean for many years now. I plan on volunteering there even though I am finished with my Service Learning hours. Taylor Prenger- Crosslines, Spring 2014 I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with Cox South Food and Nutrition Services and I am also very glad that I took advantage of the opportunity. I have been able to network … [Read more...] about Service-learning students say…
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 … [Read more...] about Serving our service-learning students
As a graduate assistant in Missouri State’s Office of Citizenship and Service Learning (CASL) I strongly believe in the merits of service learning. As a methodology, service learning has many inherent benefits. Students have access to opportunities through service learning typically not offered in traditional classes, such as hands on experience in the “real world”, active engagement in the surrounding community, the ability to test out a career path before graduating, and connecting with area professionals in related fields through networking. That last point of networking is something that I’m coming to find is more and more important the further along I go, and knowing how to network is an extremely valuable asset. Figures vary but it’s estimated that approximately 40%-70% of jobs are filled through personal contacts. These numbers add credence to the old adage, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” Before dismissing this as mere cronyism or nepotism among industry insiders, it’s important to know that the majority of good hiring is done through referrals to managers … [Read more...] about Making your own luck: an introduction to networking through service-learning