The purpose of Community Service Class is to identify a broad variety of students from the campus community who have demonstrated an interest in assuming greater leadership and service roles; to educate them through programs that broaden and deepen their knowledge of the area's challenges and service opportunities; and, to inspire them to commit their future volunteer activities individually and/or collectively to areas that will result in advancing the welfare of the people of our community.

This program will be based on the ideas and concepts developed by "Community Leadership" programs found throughout Ohio, the United States, and the world.  Currently there are over fifty community based leadership training programs in Ohio alone graduating over 1,000 participants per year.  According to F. Richard Rohs and Christine A. Langone, the programs are improving the participant's confidence to promote causes, increasing their awareness of public issues, helping them to motivate others while in leadership positions, and providing them with a sense of empowerment to influence community affairs.  These highly successful programs challenge their participants to seek solutions to problems within their own communities.

This is done in most cases through a series of monthly sessions over the course of a year in which a variety of established community leaders present panel discussions, field trips, lectures, and hands-on workshops to explore the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the people of the community.  The student participants in this program would have similar opportunities for skill development, networking, and finally service within the community.
 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Community Service Class will seeks to identify emerging and current student leaders from within the campus community and prepare them for greater civic involvement and responsibility by:

• Expanding their knowledge of community problems and opportunities;

• Strengthening their individual leadership styles and skills; and,

•  By providing them with actual service experience within the community.

THE PROGRAM

The program would consist of a sequence of three courses, starting in the fall, meeting approximately two - three hours per week, and in a single time block.  Interested students should sign-up for Arts and Sciences 101 (repeatable up to 15 hours).    The course would be offered for S /U for 2 hours of university credit per quarter.

Proposed  Program Content:

• Leadership skills, team building, developing skills necessary to be an effective volunteer….
• Presentations by community leaders examining opportunities and challenges within the Community
• Investigating service opportunities within the community by having agency heads, volunteers, clients of agencies and other individuals speak to the class.
• Provide field trips to appropriate sites (i.e., place were students might volunteer).

PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION

Fall Quarter  (2 credit hours)

Before Classes Start (Approximately 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
Team Building Camp O'Bannon:   Ground Initiatives & Ropes Course

Week 1 (Tuesday 2 - 3 hours - late afternoon) - Self Awareness -  Myers - Biggs

Week 2 (Tuesday 2 hours - late afternoon) - Orientation to the Community - An overview of life in Licking County  & Newark, Volunteerism, United Way,  Licking County Foundation,....

Week 3 - 8  (Field trips to centers, visits with clients, meetings with the staff, would a be parts of these sessions).  Possible Topics: Aging, Dependency Issues, Youth Programs, Environmental Issues,
Human Services, Religious Organizations, Service Clubs, People with Disabilities, Preservation, Housing,
Families and Individuals in Crisis, Education,  Others……
 

Winter & Spring Quarters   (2 credit hours per quarter)

In field service experience tied to the students major or area of interest where possible (e.g., a history student might be placed in a museum, social work student in a shelter… some students, however, might not find a volunteer post that matches their major - they still would be encouraged to participate at a site of their choice).
The student will spend a minimum of 5 hours per week working for the agency.

One session per month to review your activities and to continue the themes started in the Fall Quarter.