THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CREATING AND MAINTAINING

SERVICE-LEARNING RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES

Brian Collins, Kathleen Edwards, and Chrissy Orangio

Here’s what we hope to discuss today: What does a Service Learning Community look

like? Its purpose, the students, the support Various roles for students – participants and

leaders Relationship with Residence Life and other

areas of the university The advantages and disadvantages of a

learning community Some resources, problem-solving and ideas

sharing between institutions on the call.

The Service Learning Community (SLC) at Elon University

Purpose: Introduction to service

done the Elon way Leadership training

ground for the Kernodle Center

Intentional living learning environment that increases student engagement, academic success, and connection to the university

The Numbers

12 first year students, selected through application process

3 sophomore Service Learning Leaders (SLLs) who live on the floor

1 senior SLC Director 1 advisor 25 hours of service p/person, p/semester 3-4 service themes a semester 17 SLC Corps members 2 academic courses 3 day orientation before school begins 1 overnight retreat in the spring semester Weekly meetings – SLC members, SLLs, SLC-D 4 social issues dinners a year

SLC History

SLC began in fall 1994; 1st LC at Elon SLC members – anywhere between 12-50 Service Learning Leaders – between 3-8 Has rarely looked the same from year to year

Service weekends, one service project a semester Committees for the participants, no committees SLLs SLMs SLLs Two serious conversations in the past five years

about whether or not to continue

Benefits of SLC

For the students:

Decrease in high risk behavior - In 2007 44.4% of LC students reported having an average of zero drinks p/wk, while only 11.7% of non-LC students reported zero drinks. (2007 CORE results)

Higher GPA - In 2007 average GPA of LC student was 3.29; non-LC average was 3.18 (internal research)

100% of SLC members said that they would recommend a LC to a friend (RL survey)

Leadership experience Core social group

For the University

Currently 25 of the 80 Kernodle Center’s student leaders were/are members of the SLC

Recognition in US News & World Report, Presidential Honor Roll, etc.

Strong retention tool Curricular/co-curricular

hybrid

Challenges of the SLC

For the students

Time consuming investment for student leaders

Recruitment Accountability Isolation, perception on

campus Higher standards of

behavior Disengaged students No common space

For the university

Time consuming investment for advisor

Expensive Recruitment Accountability

Levels of Student Involvement:Service Learning Community Members Roles

Attend weekly meetings Perform 25 hours of

service , 10 individual Apply knowledge to

courses: call to service, global

Develop personal philosophy of service

Creates core social group important for first year students

Levels of Student Involvement:Service Learning Leaders (SLLs)

Training Service planning, group dynamics,

diversity, time management, growth and development, calendar planning, SLC orientation planning

Responsibilities Service coordinating: structure,

theme choice, PARE Meetings: SLL, SLC Residential: consistent interactions,

high availability, positive reinforcement, building and maintaining trust

Assessment of Student Leadership:Learning Outcomes Group Development

Giving & receiving feedback, strategic planning, goal setting & shared ownership, teambuilding, trust building, support + challenge, effective collaboration, seeking diversity

Individual Development Effective communication, self-awareness,

problem-solving, time management, PARE, program management, volunteer coordination, defining a personal ethic of service

Community Engagement Valuing and seeking multiple perspectives,

promoting a participatory democracy, ethical decision-making, programmatic sustainability

Levels of Student Involvement:Service Learning Community Director Responsibilities

Fall and Spring training Weekly meetings Monthly feedback sessions Conflict resolution workshops Semesterly evaluations

Learning outcomes Leadership model Experience/training for future Develop and implement training sessions

Levels of Student Involvement:Service Learning Community Corps Purpose: maintain involvement in SLC

Pros Service projects Social events SLC alumni projects

Cons Communication errors Two separate organizations to manage Competitive levels of ownership (with SLLs)

Future: stay connected with SLC alumni even post graduation, possibility for various leadership roles

Assessment of Student Leadership:Values and Challenges Values: The Legacy

Post graduate service

Ownership over LC

Strong leadership development

Challenges Time consuming

for leaders and advisor

Hard to see immediate effect of commitment

Time Management Higher standards

of behavior

Residence Life and Learning Communities at Elon University Key Concepts Structure and Components Lessons learned

Residential Learning Community – (noun) a cohort of students residing in the same residential area, interacting together and with faculty through a shared class, academic major, or intellectual interest.

Key Concepts

Community and Collaboration

Advisor’s job: (1) assist students in getting to know each other, you, and other faculty – particularly in your field/discipline (2) create unique opportunities for students to collaboratively practice/engage in your academic discipline or intellectual theme

Connection to Elon’s mission: Engaged learning, intentionality, seamless in/out of classroom learning

Structure and Components

Faculty Advisors and departmental support Syllabus, money, Service credit

LC Leadership Group Overall direction of LCs, training, budget

Residence Life support Staff, housing, programming

Other Faculty fellow, LC Challenge, LC Council,

ACUHO-I

Lessons

Clearly defined roles- advisors and Res Life staff

Departmental support- financial, time

Clear syllabus – goals, learning outcomes

Assessment- demonstrate benefits to institution

Growing pains- 2-3 years to success

Faculty engagement- monthly contact

Collaboration- faculty and Res Life

Student buy-in-program planning, decision-making

Streamlined finances- make it easy to spend money

Resources

Elon’s Residence Life webpage – look at different learning communities, link is on right hand side of page www.elon.edu/residencelife

ACUHO-I – Annual Living Learning Programs Conference

National Study of Living Learning Programs – www.livinglearningstudy.net

Smith, B., MacGregor, J., Matthews, R., Gabelnick, F. Learning Communities: Reforming undergraduate education. 2004. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Laufgraben, J. & Shapiro, N. Sustaining and improving learning communities. 2004. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Levine, J. & Shapiro, N. Creating learning communities. 1999. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.