THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CREATING AND MAINTAINING

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; 1 st 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: For the University 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 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 Individual Development Giving & receiving feedback, strategic planning, goal setting & shared ownership, teambuilding, trust building, support + challenge, effective collaboration, seeking diversity 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, LC Leadership Group Overall direction of LCs, training, budget Residence Life support Staff, money, Service credit 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. , Mac. Gregor, 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.