East Central University Service-Learning in the Principles of

East Central University Service-Learning in the Principles of Management Class Tori Petete Junior, Accounting Major Ada, OK Pat Fountain, DBA Professor of Business Administration and Service Learning Director

MGMT 3013 Principles of Management • • Junior Level Course Usually 35 -40 Students Required for Bus Admin, Accounting, HIM Traditional Introductory Management Course – Planning – Organizing – Influencing (Leading) – Controlling

The Community Need The need the class addressed came from these factors related to the ECU service area. • 1) the children in the service area are among the poorest in the nation in terms of well being • 2) the service area is geographically isolated • 3) the service area has a cycle of low educational attainment and • 4) the service area has low preparation for postsecondary education

Spring of 2006 • • • Two Sections About 70 Students Eight Student Teams/Organizations • The students were asked to plan, carry out and evaluate a project in response to the economic conditions of the service area

Results of Service-Learning • • • 4 Communities 4 School Partners 5 Community Partners $4000 in cash and merchandise Hundreds of hours of time over the semester • Directly Impacted 25 High School Juniors 115 Eighth Graders 400 First and Second Graders

Group 1 Promoting Secondary Education at Stonewall High School “ Counselors and teachers provide information and guidance, but we noticed that our students really paid attention and asked questions when other STUDENTS came and presented the information. ” Jennifer Snell, Teacher Tamara Newberry, Principal Stonewall High School

Group 2 Picket Center School • Raised over $450 toward purchasing school supplies • Supplies were also collected and donated.

Group 3 Hammond Heights Neighborhood Association • Cleaned & mowed lots • Repaired and painted a house • Worked with university volunteers & residents • Contributed over 100 man hours in 1 day

Group 4 Ada Boys and Girls Club • Raised $600 for summer program supplies • Bake sales and donations • Were able to collect and deliver donated supplies

Group 5 Hayes Grade Center • Raised $450 by conducting a “penny war” and spent time reading to the students • Principal asked them to “get the kids excited about reading” and get them some new reading material. • Winning class got to throw a pie into their teacher’s face

Group 6 Holdenville Jr High • Helped about 115 Eighth Graders learn about College • Invited them to the campus, gave them a tour, arranged various speakers and fed them lunch. • Students used a pre/post tour survey and found that the number who knew what the requirements for college were; the number who planned to attend college and the number who planned to attend ECU increased

Group 7 Habitat for Humanity Boy Scouts of America • Cleaned over 250 used bricks • Removed and disposed of over two tons of unusable bricks. (worth $500) • Donated over $150 worth of gloves, tools and safety goggles

Group 8 Ada Family Crisis Center • raised over $1300 through fundraisers and donations • Bought items that met the needs of six families

Reflection Activities Throughout the semester students were asked to talk about, write about and/or think about their projects At their final exam they were asked • 1. What problem/need did your group’s project address? • 2. In/From carrying out your project (working with the community group -not the planning or course work part) what did you learn: A. About the community group / partner B. About yourself • 3. Who benefited from your project and how? • 4. Was your project meaningful to you? YES NO If so, in what way?

Service-Learning One Professor’s Experience

Service-Learning One Student’s Experience

A Final Note Some May Wonder if Practitioners of Service Learning are really teaching students are giving students real & useful experiences are giving away grades are reaching students are enhancing their classes or wasting time