Grants and Funding

Service-Learning Course Support Grants

The Office of Service-Learning offers Service-Learning Support Grants of up to $500 intended to directly support activities related to developing, implementing or expanding academic service-learning opportunities for UGA students. 

Applicants may request funds for service-learning classes at any level or location. Courses with the S-suffix or courses that are in the process of applying for the S-suffix are eligible for grants to support projects that directly impact the expansion and support of academic service-learning opportunities for UGA students addressing critical community needs. 

Successful past requests have included supplies for student outreach projects, student background checks, materials for community partner agencies, support for hourly and student workers, and community-based research or outreach activities connected to service-learning projects. Only one grant request per course may be submitted. Grant requests are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to availability of funds.

Recognizing Community CAPITAL: Community as Partners In Teaching About our Locale 

For many service-learning courses, community experts add value to the service-learning course experience, and modeling reciprocity in our partnerships should include acknowledging these partners’ time and expertise. The UGA Office of Service-Learning, with funding support from the UGA Parents Leadership Council, is pleased to help support and recognize community experts who are asked to be guest speakers for academic service-learning courses. 

Community guest speakers who collaborate with an academic service-learning course may request a $150 honorarium and a parking voucher for a UGA parking deck. Guest speakers must sign up as an approved vendor to receive this honorarium.

Details and Requirements:

• A given course may only ask for one honorarium per semester.
• Honoraria may not be provided to people who are UGA employees.
• Priority is given to service-learning courses that have the S suffix/SERV atribute in CAPA.
• The community partner should be a guest speaker for at least one class meeting or equivalent. The presentation may be in person, or via Zoom or equivalent.
• For on-campus visits, parking deck vouchers (usually an electronic code) can be provided upon request for guest speakers.
• The course instructor should initiate the request to the OSL, using the Qualtrics link, and will need to work with the community member on the UGA reimbursement procedures.
• The guest speaker must sign up as an approved vendor (if they have not previously done so). For assistance, contact Kay Vaughn in the OSL (706-542-8924).
• Next, the guest speaker will have to complete a non-employee payment request form (sections 1-7), sign the form, and return it to Kay Vaughn in the OSL (kyvaughn@uga.edu) for processing.

To submit a request, please be prepared with information about the presentation (topic, date, class) and name and role of the community presenter. The Office of Service-Learning will follow up with approval and next steps. You may request support by following the link below.

Questions? Please contact Dr. Shannon Brooks (shannon.brooks@uga.edu) with program questions or OSL business manager Kay Vaughn (kyvaughn@uga.edu) for technical assistance.

Service-Learning Transportation Grants

With support from a grant from the UGA Parents Leadership Council, the Office of Service-Learning has funding to cover transportation costs for classes traveling off-campus for service-learning experiences. Usually, this entails renting a van or other vehicle from the UGA motor pool, and multiple trips per course are allowable. 

UGA faculty and staff must make reservations through their department with the UGA Automotive Center. The Office of Service-Learning will reimburse departments for the cost of a UGA rental (van, mini-van, sedan, campus charter bus, or disability van) for your service-learning course. Courses with the S-suffix or courses that are in the process of applying for the S-suffix are eligible for grants. The Automotive Center is at 205 Riverbend Drive, close to the intersection with College Station Road. Contact vehiclerentals@uga.edu or call 706-542-7173/7525 for assistance.