Reflection & Reinforcement: Community Engagement & Student Experience

Reflection & Reinforcement: Community Engagement & Student Experience

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  Reflection and Reinforcement:Community Engagement and the Student Experience Session Agenda • Overview of the Volunteer & Service Learning Center • Review the Basis of Effective Reflection • Self-Reflection Activity • VSLC Student Leaders Panel • Q&A
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  Overview The Volunteer andService Learning Center (VSLC): • Is the connection to service through The University of Texas at Austin, • Coordinates volunteerism and service learning opportunities for students across campus, • And is the key liaison on campus for The Texas Campus Compact.
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  General Volunteer Services UTVolunteer Fair The UT Volunteer Fair provides an opportunity for student volunteers to gather information from a variety of non-profit agencies interested in working with the UT community. Online Volunteer Database Access the VSLC’s online database at www.utvolunteers.org to search for ongoing volunteer opportunities. Through this database you can search by interest area, non-profit group, or view the event calendar. Serve Here Spotlight A weekly listserv published every Monday, to a campus and community audience, announcing upcoming public service opportunities, service events, and scholarships and internships. Text UTVSLC to 22828 to sign-up.
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  Co-curricular Programs/Events Academic ServiceLearning Academic Service Learning classes integrates community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen the community. Visit www.vslc.org for a list of service learning courses. UT Service Scholars In partnership with the LBJ School of Public Affairs, this program engages UT students in intense service opportunities that prepare students to take their service interests to the next level. Texas FIRST This community service organization is designed to meet the needs of first year students. This organization holds community service, social, and refection events to increase student involvement with the Austin community. The UT Service Council This new initiative provides UT student organizations the opportunity to unify, collaborate, network, and develop public service opportunities on and off campus. It also provide a vehicle for students to collectively assess the needs of the university and the community, and react quickly for emergency events (Haiti Earthquake 2010, Bastrop Relief Effort, etc.).
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  The Academic Service-LearningProgram Academic service-learning is: • A form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address community needs; • A program of study that integrates service with goal learning outcomes; • A method of pedagogy in which service and learning are equally critical components.
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  Keys to Service-Learning Reflectionactivities help students connect what they learn through their service with the theoretical background that is set forth through course materials. • What? • So What? • Now What? Reflection needs to be • Continuous • Connected • Challenging • Contextualized
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  Keys to Service-Learning Reciprocitybetween the organization being served and those engaged in service promotes a sense of mutual responsibility and a situation in which students feel a sense of belonging in the community and community partners feel empowered to bring in the help they need to meet a priority.
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  Benefits of AcademicService-Learning Courses Students: • Engagement in academic service-learning may enhance students’ interpersonal, cognitive, moral, and intellectual development, as well as a sense of civic responsibility • Students may also begin making deep connections between coursework and real-world application in employment or community service. Instructors: • Faculty members have the opportunity to develop courses that facilitate student learning and encourage strong collaborative relationships between students and instructors. Community Partners: • Eager, enthusiastic student learners enable organizations to meet their goals as well as represent the link between the partner and the intellectual resources at The University of Texas at Austin.
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  How You CanHelp Build the Service-Learning Program • Let our students know about the idea of service-learning; • Learn what areas students are most interested in developing ; • Get a sense of what courses students are in that incorporate service.
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  Reflection Activity
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  UT Scholars Panel
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  Participate in VSLCSignature Volunteer Events and Opportunities Project 2012 – Be a part of UT’s largest day of service taking place on Saturday, February 25, 2012 in the Dove Spring Neighborhood. Project Reach Out – Bi-annual day of service event that is hosted in partnership with a variety of non-profit organizations throughout Austin. The Spring 2012 PRO Event will take place on March 24, 2012. Tower Awards - The Tower Awards are presented annually to honor excellence in volunteerism among the students, faculty, and staff at The University of Texas at Austin. Nominations can be submitted on our website. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
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  Contact us! vslc.org Yvonne Loya [email protected] Suchitra Gururaj [email protected] Amory Baril [email protected]
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  Questions?