On April 21, NC Campus Compact’s Engaged Faculty Scholars led a service-learning institute for 14 faculty members of Davidson County Community College. As part of their fellowship, Dr. Maggie Commins (Queens University of Charlotte) and Dr. Cara Kozma (High Point University) have been working with Davidson County CC for months, consulting with administrators on strategies for supporting service-learning at the college.
The half-day curriculum was adapted from Engaged Faculty Institute Curriculum, originally authored by Community-Campus Partnerships for Health and recently updated by California Campus Compact and Campus Compact of the Mountain West.
Drs. Commins and Kozma led a service-learning institute for DCCC faculty on April 21.
The half-day session focused on an introduction to service-learning theory and practice, cultural competence, and developing strategies for designing and implementing service-learning courses.
In addition to their work with DCCC, Commins and Kozma are undertaking projects to deepen or expand community engagement on their respective campuses. Commins is using her fellowship to support the integration of service learning or civic engagement components in accordance with the university’s new general education curriculum, “Queens Advantage.” The curriculum requires new “learning communities” at the 300 level to incorporate engagement. At High Point University, Kozma is researching how students’ socioeconomic backgrounds affect individual learning outcomes in service-learning courses.
The Compact is seeking applications from faculty members at network campuses who wish to serve as Engaged Faculty Scholars in 2017-2018. The application deadline is May 12.
Selected scholars receive a $1500 stipend, as well as access to professional development funds to support their participation in a community engagement conference.