Background on Service-Learning at SUNY College at Oneonta

The role of the Center in developing social responsibility includes establishing a service-learning initiative on campus with faculty, students, and administrators.

The first step in developing the service-learning initiative in course work was to identify faculty already engaged in experiential learning through field experiences, internships, and experiential projects. The Center establishes a partnership role between faculty integrating a service-learning component and community agencies and organizations where service is performed. Thus, the initial contact with an agency or organization is through the Center. Once faculty establish a partnership, they often maintain that relationship on their own.

Students with specific interests in developing their own service-learning project are assisted by the Agency Relations Coordinator in finding opportunities to perform the service and the Service-Learning Director regarding design, implementation and evaluation of the project. The Center also established a service-learning initiative through the campus office of Residence Life and Housing. First-year students participate in a Freshman Interest Group, live together in a quad, and take the same courses according to their major that includes a service-learning course.

The Faculty Advisory Council consists of faculty members from different academic disciplines committed to furthering the goals of the Center. The Council advises the Service-Learning Director and the Executive Director on integrating service-learning into course work; faculty fellowship development and distribution; the direction of research in service-learning; and continued integration of the Center into the overall Campus Community.

The Faculty Fellowship Program is available to full-time faculty on the SUNY Oneonta campus to integrate Service-Learning into existing courses and complete related research, thereby furthering our students' sense of social responsibility and enhancing the mission of the Center. The Fellowships provide support through grants to cover the expenses involved in course design and/or research. Applications are encouraged from all areas of instruction. Applications are evaluated under procedures and deadlines established by the Faculty Advisory Council of the CSRC. Award recipients will attend a Faculty Advisory Council meeting to give a verbal update of their progress with the fellowship during the academic year. Recipients must also submit a full report, course syllabus and conclusions by the closing date.