During the fall semester 2018, the office of Citizenship & Service-Learning partnered with the Springfield Dream Center, The Fairbanks/Northwest Project, and Dr. Alex Jean-Charles and Dr. Ann Marie Daehn's service-learning students to host a brand-new program called “Around the World in 80 Days.” “Around the World in 80 Days” developed out of Dr. Ann Marie Daehn’s service-learning courses MUS 293,393 and 493 and Dr. Alex Jean-Charles EDC 345 Multi-cultural Education and Diversity class and in partnership with the CASL office. In these classes, students discussed ideas for giving back to the community with culture. Service-learning director, Dr. Kathy Nordyke was more than happy to help build this vision of using multiple departments to create a community educational event. Ultimately, education students from CFD 560/660 Family Engagement course and Professor Sarah Murray’s BMS 340 Nutrition Education students, along with a host of students from French, Sociology, Biology, Management, Psychology, First-Year Programs and the Honor's College also joined in with Music and … [Read more...] about Departmental collaboration the key to community education event
By Shayla Vance The 2017-2018 academic year has been successful for the office of Citizenship and Service-Learning. Over 5,000 students have registered for service-learning courses in the fall, summer and spring, which is more than twice the enrollment rate of 2012-2013’s same semesters. More students are recognizing service-learning as a valuable career experience, and they are making a significant impact on the community. In a component course, each student completes 40 hours of service with a community partner for their service-learning project. Combining courses with integrated service-learning brings the total so far to 82,580 hours of service. The impact is already starting to show. CASL students have brought an estimated total dollar value of 1,781,250 to the Springfield area and outside communities through service-learning. So while students are gaining hands-on career experience, they are also making a measurable impact on the community. The higher enrollment is not only making a difference within Springfield, but also for CASL community partners. With a greater … [Read more...] about Service-Learning Enrollment has Doubled within the Last Five Years
Earlier this year, CASL partnered with the Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks (VRCO) to produce a promotional documentary premiered during the organization's annual "Dining in the Dark" fundraising event. The VRCO supports southwest Missouri's vision health with low or no-cost optometry services. Citizenship & Service-Learning often refers patients to the VRCO that are found to have potential vision problems through our signature Vision Screening Program. The "Dining in the Dark" fundraiser, in which guests are blindfolded during dinner to simulate the difficulties of blindness and low vision, raises funds for advancing VRCO services and technology. CASL supported the VRCO's efforts through the production of a promotional documentary that was played during the dinner. CASL Director, Dr. Kathy Nordyke and VRCO director, Wendy Jackson executive produced. Charles Whitaker and Tatym Brown produced all video content on a $0 budget. Watch the full video below and be sure to visit VRCO's website for information about how you can help support their efforts. … [Read more...] about CASL and VRCO Partner Up in Fundraising Video