- Hunger in Schools/Place at the Table service-learning project
- Online modules for Latino service-learning released at April 23 SLIG meeting
- Corey Johnson and Kathy Thompson selected for 2013 SL Teaching Excellence Awards
- Get good feedback about your service-learning courses—Sign up for end-of-course survey now!
- Service-Learning in the News
Engagement Hubs
Each year, the Office of Service-Learning sets priority areas to support campus-wide collaboration, community engagement, and interdisciplinary service-learning. Each “engagement hub” has one or more lead faculty members who help focus efforts, foster communication, and convene interested collaborators and community partners.
In past years, these hubs have led to development of new coursework, successful funding of initiatives with federal grants, and innovative development of multi-disciplinary partnerships.
For 2012-13, OSL Engagement Hubs include:
Community Food Engagement Hub
Lead faculty: David Berle, horticulture; Cecilia Herles, women’s studies; Shannon Wilder, Office of Service-Learning and art education
A multidisciplinary group of faculty, students and community members work together on the social, economic, cultural, political, environmental, and nutritional aspects of community food issues. Projects include—
- Local Food Systems Certificate Program - A USDA (NIFA)-funded interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate program in Local Food Systems offering courses in 10 schools and colleges. Course development grants are available for integrating service-learning focused on food issues into new or existing courses.
- UGA Campus Kitchen Project – Connected to the national Campus Kitchen Projects (CKP) model, CKP is a food rescue and waste reduction program. UGA’s CKP is focused on alleviating senior hunger through a partnership with the Athens Community Council on Aging, Talmadge Terrace/Lanier Gardens Senior Living Community, and the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. Service-learning courses connected to CKP include diverse disciplines such as social work, horticulture, women’s studies, geography, child and family development, and foods and nutrition.
- School and Community Garden Network – Athens has a thriving school and community garden network with opportunities for teaching and research.
- UGArden – This student-powered organic garden is located on campus and is run by the UGArden student organization and horticulture and supplies fresh produce to UGA’s Campus Kitchen. It is also a teaching space open to service-learning courses from any discipline.
Service-Learning with Latino Communities Engagement Hub
Lead faculty: Maritza Soto Keen, Fanning Institute; Paul Matthews, Office of Service-Learning
This engagement hub facilitates sharing of information between campus and community constituents to create a community of practice and to identify opportunities for service-learning on Latino-oriented issues. Participants help identify and prioritize areas needing additional resources or support (e.g., training, mini-grants, support personnel, MOUs, external grants, assessment of impact, etc.); and work to implement coordinated efforts to provide necessary resources.
Service-Learning in K-12 Classrooms Engagement Hub
Lead faculty: Kathy Thompson, middle school education; Paul Matthews, Office of Service-Learning
Teachers in local elementary, middle, and high schools work with faculty members in UGA's College of Education, Office of Service-Learning, and other units to strengthen their ability to implement service-learning in their own classrooms. Through periodic workshops, mini-grants, consultations, and information sharing, teachers are supported in engaging their students with hands-on, community-based activities that strengthen their understanding of the curriculum.
