1. Institutionalizing Service Learning and Civic Engagement Paul Sather, Director, Service Learning Academy Deborah Smith-Howell, Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean www.unomaha.edu/servicelearning

2. UNOS MISSION As Nebraskas metropolitan University, UNO is characterized by its strong academic foundations and creative community relationships that transform and improve the lives of constituents, the region, and the nation.

3. UNOS THREE STRATEGIC GOALS Goal 1UNO will be recognized as a student- centered metropolitan university Goal 2UNO will be recognized for its academic excellence as a leading metropolitan university Goal 3UNO will be recognized for its outstanding engagement with the urban, regional, national, and global communities

4. INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT Mission and Vision Defining UNO as a Metropolitan University Carnegie Elective Classification 2006--Initial group with designation Both curricular AND Outreach & Partnerships

5. WHY ? Need for institutional identity Building on traditions and culture yet creating a vision and opportunities for the future

6. HOW? Beginning in 1997, campus focus on strategic planning Key faculty in Social Work, English, and then working with the Center for Faculty Development saw opportunities

7. Seven courses offered in 98-99; over 150 in 2011-2012. 133 students participating in 98-99; 1700 in 11-12. Value-added to the community since 98-99, over $7.8 million. Service-learning courses offered in all six academic colleges and the graduate college. HISTORY OF SERVICE LEARNING AT UNO

8. THE FACULTY ROLE A study of 45 colleges and universities (Bell et al., 2000) found that the strongest predictor for institutionalizing service-learning on college campuses is faculty involvement in and support for service-learning. Why is faculty involvement so important? to ensure course quality to sustain work over a period of years to win administrative support to open the door to other kinds of institutional engagement (e.g., recruitment, research)

9. UNO SERVICE LEARNING ACADEMY: ROLE AND ACTIVITIES Established Fall 2005 as independent office with full-time director Provide Faculty and Community Partners Support K-12 Partnerships Recipient of local, state, and national grants & contracts

10. PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES Interdisciplinary Days of Service Faculty Seminars (North, South, K-12, ) Civic Participation Projects Debate Watch Deliberative Polling Culture Walks Newspapers in Curriculum

11. BENEFITS OF SERVICE LEARNING: UNO Visible enactment of institutional mission as metropolitan university; Public commitment to the community; Regional and national recognition; Enhanced student satisfaction; and Enhanced student learning.

12. 12 UNO is nationally recognized for its engagement efforts: Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (2006) President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll - with distinction (2009) UNOs Service Learning Program recognized as an Academic Program to Look For among 42 programs nationally by U.S. News and World Report Honorable Mention, Washington Centers Higher Education Civic Engagement Award Top 25 Best Neighbor colleges and universities among 125 institutions who participated Saviors of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships SUCCESSES

13. NEXT STEPS Scholarship of Engagement Initiative Student Service-Volunteer-Leadership Coordination and Programming IARSLCE Annual Conference, Omaha, 2013 CUMU (Coalition of Urban & Metropolitan Universities) Annual Conference 2015

14. 14 UNO Community Engagement Center Groundbreaking October 24, 2012

15. For more information Paul Sather psather@unomaha.edu Deborah Smith-Howell Dsmith-howell@unomaha.edu