The Engaged CampusCollege of Saint Mary • Service Learning Newsletter August 2016 • Vol. I, No. I

Special Points of Interest

▶ Focusing Outreach Efforts on the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy

▶ Building an Advocacy Focus in Service Efforts

▶ Offering a Wide Range of Service Activities and Trips — Both Curricular and Co-curricular

▶ Supporting the College’s Strategic Priority to Build an Inclusive Campus

The 2015-2016 academic year was an exciting time for community engagement at College of Saint Mary. CSM’s commitment to academic service re-mained strong with students in all programs learn-ing professional and civic skills in the community classroom. Students volunteered for an wide array of service activities both on and off campus and took leadership in many key projects.

Work related to the Critical Concern of the Earth was especially notable in the 2015-2016 ac-ademic year. CSM has developed a sustainability minor and new courses to support it (including a chemistry course entitled Earth Wisdom); the cam-pus garden is going strong; students from two classes traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby the Nebras-ka legislative delegation regarding climate change; the Latina and African American academies in the summer were focused on sustainability; the College sustainability committee has done excellent work

coordinating sustainability efforts across the campus and; the list goes on.

Structuring community engagement has been an important focus of the current strategic planning efforts for the University. In the upcoming year, we will be building from the strong foundation to more fully coordinate and deepen University impact in the community. We believe that all the great outreach at CSM could be even more impactful if we strength-ened our cross-campus collaborations and coordinat-ed outreach efforts more fully.

This annual report is structured in the spirit of this collaboration. The report focuses on CSM’s engagement with the community—not the engage-ment of individual programs per se. When all these efforts are placed together, the results are impressive. We look forward to facilitating our part of CSM’s Inclusive Campus strategic priority and further deepening our impact in our community.

Community Outreach at CSM: Coordinated and Collaborative

above: Students volunteering at Benson Plant Rescue during Spirit of Service Day.

right: Students volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to restore two homes.

By the Numbers

SERVICE LEARNING 383 students and 20 faculty members contributed 10,516 service learning hours (9,562 student hours/954 faculty hours) working with 48 community partners.

COMMUNITY SERVICE 353 students and 67 staff and faculty members contributed 2,815 community service hours working with 42 community partners.

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Focusing outreach efforts on the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy: The Earth

Student interest in the community garden during the spring semester was overwhelming. That led to commitments from 10 students to act as sum-mer garden volunteers.

These students have been very busy. Students chose to grow the majority of the plants from seed in the greenhouse located inside Hill-Macaluso Hall. Faculty member Dr. Amanda Roe was invited to present on the importance of bees. Students also took the initiative to paint the plots to bring aware-ness to the space.

Students worked over the summer to develop a mission for the garden, “Growing Earth Connec-tions, Growing Food Security, Growing Mind and Spirit.” The mission is now painted on the north side of the plots. Soon, the east and west side of the plots will have CSM Community Garden on it, visible from both Aksarban Village and south CSM parking lot.

Students organize a produce stand on Tuesdays in Hixson-Lied Commons, making the produce available for the CSM Community.

top: Produce table in Hixson-Lied Commons each Tuesday of the growing season.

above: A CSM student works to plant starts in the garden in mid-April.

Past Events

Summer Academies Teach Advocacy to High School Students

The 2016 summer academies for Latina and African American high school students focused on “The Art & Science of Sustainability.” Both acade-mies concluded with a session on advocacy and civic engagement.

Students spent time discussing an environmen-tal issue, learning to lobby a public official about it and then were visited by a local public official and invited to practice their lobbying skills.

Councilman Pete Festersen worked with the Latina Academy and Councilman Ben Grey worked with the African American Academy.

SUSTAINABILITY & SUSTENANCE: The Future of Food

Focus: Faculty and Staff orientation focused on learning, discussing, and engaging in conversations about food and sustainability in the Omaha com-munity. Highlights of the community orientation included a panel presentation, two site visits, and networking lunch in the community to continue the conversation. Site visits and panelists include: To-gether Inc., Whispering Roots, Big Garden Project, Hunger Free Heartland, and No More Empty Pots.

Participants: 30 faculty and staff from five area col-leges and universities.

FLINT MICHIGAN & THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO WATER

Focus: Part of the Year of Mercy Luncheon Series. This discussion focused on the political, scientific and theological perspectives on the lead contami-nated drinking water in Flint, Michigan.

Presented by: Dr. Kristin Mattson, Dr. Ganesh Naik and Dr. Jennifer Reed-Bouley

TALKING POLITICS: An Invitation to a Conversation & a Call to Action

Focus: This panel presentation sought to engage the community in conversation about the impact of po-litical language in the 2016 election.

Panelists: Betsy Foltz, Zoe Feilner, Andrea Saave-dra-Garcia, Carol Brownell, Shabnam Waheed and Allyah Rayyan

left: Omaha City Councilman Ben Grey

right: Omaha City Councilman Peter Fetersen

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Immersion Experiences & Cross Campus Collaboration

MILWAUKEECasa Romero, a spiritual renewal center, start-

ed by a Jesuit in Milwaukee hosted 10 CSM stu-dents and staff January 3-9. Students participated in an “Urban Plunge” coined as an experience of being immersed in the realities of generational poverty that face some residents of Milwaukee.

With the intent of awareness building, Casa Romero staff built the week-long experience to in-creasingly challenge students’ and lay people’s as-sumptions about primary personal needs.

Two highlights of the trip were students visit-ing with and hearing the hardships of homeless and disabled female veterans. These women were close in age and students identified with their desire for health and participation. Students also were invited help prepare people studying for the U.S. Citizen-ship Test. The questions were at times challenging for the CSM students, but those preparing for citizen-ship were well prepared—or on their way to being so.

During the reunion, students shared how they grew in awareness of issues facing people who are economically poor and/or disenfranchised in the United States.

Pictured above is the group of students at a Franciscan Parish in Milwaukee after Mass. Students would later work with another friar during a com-munity meal at another parish in the city.

WASHINGTON, D.C.Over 2016 Spring break, students in Faith, Politics, and Social Concerns (offered by the Theology

Program) and American Government (offered by the History/Political Science Program) traveled to Wash-ington, D.C, for an immersion trip focused on advocacy for environmental sustainability. The Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team facilitated the seminar. The seminar included visits with experts in the areas of lobbying and environmental sustainability (including Catholic groups such as NETWORK) as well as meet-ings with elected officials in Washington D.C. in order to enable the students to practice direct lobbying. This was the first time an immersion trip had focused on political advocacy. Student response to the focus was very positive. A student evaluation of the experience illustrates its impact:

“I did not realize that our own personal stories could make such an impact and could ultimately be the cause of someone changing their minds regarding certain legislation.”

KENTUCKYChristian Appalachian Project hosts several

universities from around the country during the spring break season for Workfest. Workfest is a week long experience in which about one hundred students gather at a variety of sites in the state of Kentucky and are sent out to do projects for low income homeowners throughout the Appalachian Mountains.

Campus Ministry sent nine students to par-ticipate March 5-12. This is a great opportunity for CSM students to form a relationship with another Mercy institution, St. Xavier University, of Chicago. The organization has three goals for participants “Service, Community, and Spirituality.” Students are asked to help plan prayer each morning and evening, share transportation to work sites and learn life skills in con-struction/community building. The first response from a student, and affirmation for a future opportunities with CAP, was “that was the best trip ever!”

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CSM’S 19TH ANNUAL SPIRIT OF SERVICE DAY WAS HELD ON APRIL 14, 2016.

THIS SPECIAL DAY SUPPORTS THE UNIVERSITY’S MISSION OF

commitment to compassionate service.

2016 Recap

376 ParticipantsA RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS,

FACULTY AND STAFF TOOK PART IN THE 2016 SPIRIT OF SERVICE DAY!

23 Service Sites

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity

CSM Community Garden

Open Door Mission

Benson Plant Rescue

Prom Dress Drive

Heartland: Youth Links

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2015 - 2016 SERVICE LEARNING COURSES

EDU 350 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts Dr. Acklie

Students work in a classroom doing one on one tutoring in the area of Literacy Development.

EDU 353 - Teaching Natural and Social Sciences Elementary Dr. Acklie

Students from Girls Inc. visited campus 2x per week for 8 weeks to participate in science and social science lessons. The lessons were planned and taught by CSM elementary/middle school pre-service teachers.

EDU 375 - Human Relations in A Multicultural Society Dr. Acklie and Ms. Flinn

Students worked with Crestview Housing children after school from 3:00 - 6:00. They helped with homework, social skills and through their interactions provided the students with role models that encourage education and social skills.

EDU 355 - Teaching Math ElementaryMr. Murphy

Students from Girls Inc. visited campus two times per week for eight weeks to participate in math lessons. The lessons were planned and taught by CSM elementary/middle school pre-service teachers.

SPE 240 - Guidance and Classroom ManagementMs. Thornblad

Students worked with Crestview Housing children after school from 3:00 -6:00. They helped with homework, social skills and through their interactions provided the students with role models that encourage education and social skills.

SPE 430 - Diagnosis and Evaluation of ReadingDr. Acklie

Students worked within a classroom at Liberty School doing one on one tutoring in the area of Literacy Development.

ECE 234 - Math, Science and Social Studies in Early Childhood Dr. Felton

Students in this class engage in nature based service learning. This year we assisted Katie Krause, Nebraska Extension Learning Child Specialist, in constructing and preparing planter boxes for a Learning Garden Project starting summer 2016.

BUS 429 - Strategic CommunicationMr. Brewer

Students prepared marketing plan for Sisters of Mercy 150th Anniversary celebration,

BUS 496 - Business PoliciesDr. Shambare

The student developed a strategic plan for Adventos Group that offers Security Software for security agencies.

OTH 355 - Principles of Health Promotion and EducationDr. Garafalo-Peterson

Students engaged in health promotion and education training at Timbercreek Apts and Metro stars gymnastics.

OTH 560 - Clinical Reasoning III Dr. Haas

Students were paired with a classroom teacher (pre K - 6th grade, art, and PE) to assist with occupational therapy issues in the classroom. Students worked on handwriting, study skills, gross and fine motor skills, and play with the classroom students. Occupational therapy students left teachers with a plan of ideas to help identified students in their class.

NUR 201 - Public Health Nursing Ms. Milton

The concepts and principles of Public Health Nursing are integrated in the provision of holistic nursing care for vulnerable individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a variety of public health settings. Clinical experiences/partnerships involving various public health agencies promote application and synthesis of theoretical concepts and use of clinical skills while serving the needs of the population.

FYS 113 - Hunger and Service LearningDr. Mattson

Students learned about service-learning and food insecurity through film, lecture, discussion and service-learning. Service included group and individual work in area pantries.

HSV 477 & 478 - Fieldwork Experience & Seminar II Dr. Hoss

Students completed a minimum of 175 hours of direct service at a human services agency. How each student spent her time depended on the mutual goals of the agency and the student.

HPS 110 - American GovernmentDr. Mattson

The American Government class focused on advocacy and culminated with a week long immersion experience in Washington, D.C. Students practiced and employed advocacy skills, meeting with public and nonprofit representatives.

THL 330 H2 - Faith, Politics and Social Concerns Dr. Reed-Bouley

Students practiced advocacy skills on Capitol Hill related to the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concern of care for the earth.

THL 214 - Christian Life and ServiceDr. Reed-Bouley

The service-learning focused on any aspect of healthy nutrition or hunger. Students could choose either a service-learning paper or research paper in the course. The goal of the service-learning project was to compare and contrast the service experience and the information gleaned from the service regarding hunger with course texts.

CSM Elementary Science Outreach Program Dr. Roe

The CSM Elementary Science Outreach Program places undergraduate student volunteers who are Education and/or Science majors into K-6 elementary school classrooms to engage students in science using in-class experiments and activities relating to specific topics chosen by the elementary school teacher.

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New in 2016 - 2017

To build further collaboration and coordination in our outreach efforts, we are...

▶ Revitalizing the CSM Service Corp to focus on serving priority community partners and cross-campus collaboration.

▶ Developing an application process for course service-learning designation and piloting the designation process in 2016-2017.

▶ Offering networking sessions for faculty and staff to build collaborative service project.

Fall Programming & Events ▶ Seeking Clarity: Examining Omaha’s Water Quality Faculty and Staff Community Orientation August 16, 2016

▶ 2016 Election Lecture Series League of Women Voters presentation Collaboration with Walk Tall Honors Program. October 5, 2016 from Noon - 1 p.m. Nebraska Death Penalty Initiative October 18 at 9:30 a.m. Women in Elected Office Panel Discussion and Lunch Date TBD

▶ A Place at the Table Film screening and student led discussion of hunger in Omaha. October 26 at 2:30 p.m.

▶ Launch of Campus Compact of the Great Plains Fall 2016

▶ History and Politics of US Immigration, HPS 280 Recruiting for service-learning course with Washington, D.C. spring break immersion.

7000 Mercy RoadOmaha, NE 68106CSM.edu

Dr. Kristin MattsonDirector of Service Learning

kmattson@csm.edu

CSM Students in Washington, D.C.

Talking Politics Panelists L-R: Betsy Foltz, Andrea Saavedra-Garcia, Shabnam Waheed, Zoe Feilner, Allyah Rayyan and Carol Brownell

Alternative Winter Break Trip