PNC Accepted to Campus Compact Fellows Program

Purdue University North Central Service Learning Coordinator Laura Weaver has been accepted in the Indiana Campus Compact Community Service Director Fellows Program for 2009 - 2010.

This fellowship will assist Weaver in developing a training and informational program for area non-profit community agencies to provide them with the tools needed to design, develop and implement successful service learning projects for area students. The fellowship includes a grant that was made possible through the support of the Lilly Endowment.

Weaver explained that the fellowship will allow her to work with the Northwest Indiana Consortium for Community Partnership - a group composed of Purdue North Central, Indiana University Northwest, Valparaiso University, Calumet College of St. Joseph, Davenport University and Ivy Tech Community College, along with  the United Way Regional Volunteer Center, the Non-Profit Institute and guest member Purdue Calumet. The Consortium shares the goal of providing service learning and service engagement initiatives to students attending Northwest Indiana colleges and universities.

Weaver plans to work with area not-for profit agencies to create training modules that will cover the topics of: the basics of service learning, student and project assessment, communication with partnering faculty members, project identification and development, project readiness, navigating conflict, risk management and onsite reflection.

"Service learning puts university students in the community to partner with non-profit agencies," said Weaver. "It is important to note that service learning combines community service with academic instruction. It allows students to become engaged in the community so that they can work with the agencies to provide much-needed services."

Past PNC Service Learning projects have matched students with agencies such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, the American Red Cross, Michiana Resources, Opportunity Enterprises, Spring Valley Homeless Shelter, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Michigan City Area Schools. Mixed Up Mutts, and others. The students come away with a wealth of real world project experience and knowledge while the agency receives much needed help from trustworthy, knowledgeable volunteers.

"Research indicates that service learning experiences on campus leads students to a life-long interest in volunteering and community service," said Weaver.

Weaver is also planning an area Service Learning Conference and Non-Profit Fair for Nov. 6 on the PNC Westville campus. This event will bring together area agencies seeking students for service-learning opportunities with interested PNC students and faculty members.

A variety of speakers and workshops will provide information about the aspects of service learning and its usefulness for students, faculty and non-profit agencies.