S-L 2017-18
HYPHEN Snapshots | Reflections | Stories
First-Year Bonner Leaders Organize the Inaugural Spring Fling
CONTENTS
Above: The Office of Service-Learning during our Annual Halloween Costume Party & Bonner Meeting. Top Row (L-R) Rona Whitehead, Ken Jones, Juliana Murcia, Daniel Fidalgo Tomé, Diana Strelczyk, Branndon Nesspor, Erin O'Hanlon, Mary Kelly McQuarrie, Maddy Whittle, Jodie Davis, Alucia Bauman-Jeanty, Flor Cruz-Morillo. MIddle Row (L-R): Kevin Gil-Clara, Kiersten Connor, Caroline Sparacino, Nick Camacho, Andrew Dicken, Maddie Dubbs, Hunter Daly, Som Slack, Bottom: Micah Edgehill. Photo Credit: Stockton University Marketing and Relations.
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WELCOME TO HYPHEN
ENGAGED LEARNING IS LIMITLESS
Highlights from three ServiceLearning Courses and Faculty engaged in sustainable projects
See how our Bonner Leaders Program has grown and continues to exceed our expectations
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Stockton is leading the way nation-wide in promoting Civic Engagement through Service
Teaching Circle, Faculty Fellow, Symposium and Program Standards deepen our commitment to academics
Daniel Fidalgo Tomé, director of Service-Learning provides an introduction and welcome to HYPHEN
SKILL SHARING AROUND THE U.S. Faculty, Staff, and Student presentations across the country feature Stockton's pathways to success
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF SERVICE AND ENGAGEMENT
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TEACHING, BUILDING, AND LEARNING
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Travis Love provides a critical reflection of his past year
A closing message and future perspective to where the Office of Service-Learning is going
ACTIVIST IN RESIDENT REFLECTION
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BONNER LEADERS LEADING THE WAY
LOOKING FORWARD
Reflection is the HYPHEN Between Service and Learning Welcome! This is the second edition of Hyphen, a collection of snapshots, reflections and stories about service-learning and civic engagement experiences of Stockton University students. Developed by the Office of Service-Learning, we hope that these stories resonate with you. The title of Hyphen is significant in the service-learning and civic engagement field. Many think service-learning must always include a hyphen -- this is one of the first lessons new members of the community discover. The hyphen is important, both practically and symbolically. Grammatically, hyphens bring words together that have a combined meaning or purpose. They are, by definition, connectors. Service-Learning is also about bringing people together to share their experiences and stories. While there is some debate in the field about the use of the hyphen, a common approach is that the hyphen symbolizes reflection. Reflection is an anchor in service-learning, grounding the connection between service and learning. According to Lynn Pelco’s work “Reflection: The Hyphen Between Service & Learning,” service-learning uses reflection as a “creative and critical thinking skill(s) to help prepare students succeed in and to learn from the service experience, and to examine the larger picture and context in which the service occurs.” (Toole & Toole, 1985, p.100). This collection of stories highlight our reflections from this past academic year. It is important to remember that service-learning is one form of experiential learning; internships and study abroad are also excellent examples. The Office of Service-Learning recently has focused on project-based learning and community-based research. One of the unique aspects we stress is the importance of understanding what an authentic relationship between students, faculty and community partners looks and feels like. Working to have a reciprocal relationship is the goal. It is important to raise awareness about critical issues and ensure our students are conscious of the roles they play as engaged citizens. This is the latest of many great reflections to come! Please enjoy it and support us to celebrate the extraordinary work our students, faculty, staff and community partners at Stockton University have accomplished.
WELCOME TO HYPHEN
Enthusiastically,
Daniel Fidalgo Tomé, Director of the Office of Service-Learning Stockton University
Above: (L-R) Maddie Dubbs, Paige Richards, Kevin Gli-Clara & Drew Dicken. MIddle: (L-R) Branndon Nesspor, Jonathan Bowie. Lower: (front) Micah Edgehill, (back) Jake Brarman, Branndon Nessport, Sparkle Prevard, Jodie Davis, Flor Cruz-Morillo, Sharaé Howell
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ENGAGED LEARNING IS LIMITLESS Above: Students from Professor Jess Bonan-White's CRIM3320--Homeland Security course in the Campus Center. Left: Professor Joe Trout and his students demonstrate a physics experiment with an elementary student from Atlantic City schools for PHYS2220--Physics I.
The primary focus for the Office of Service-Learning at Stockton University is to serve the courses which offer our brand of engaged learning inside and outside the classroom. This leads our professional staff, Bonner Leaders, and volunteers to assist and guide the faculty, students and community partners who make the reciprocal relationships of a Service-Learning Pedagogy. During the 2017-18 academic year, 59 faculty members teaching 97 courses partnering with over 140 community partners engaged over 2,000 students in these efforts. These stories offer a snapshot of specific projects, featuring various disciplines, communities and perspectives all leading to our greater good.
STEM Programs Provide "Near Peer" Experiences for Stockton and Community Students For the past two Fall semesters, students from PHYS2220--Physics I, alongside Professor Joe Trout engaged in “Active Learning.” Stockton students trade time away from ‘traditional lectures’ for interactive learning activities. Students are actively encouraged to think about the physics concepts involved through demonstrations. Professor Trout’s students then use their hands-on skills and knowledge and provide ‘near-peer’ educational experiences to local elementary school children. During Fall 2016, 45 students from St. Francis Xavier School, Philadelphia visited campus to experience the inaugural “Day of Science." In Fall 2017, over 100 students from two elementary school from Atlantic City participated in the event. The “Day of Science” is organized into four sessions. During the first session, the Stockton students present handson demonstrations, serve lunch, and provide dialogue about their fields of study and the Stockton experience. Dessert consists of liquid nitrogen ice cream prepared by the grade school students with the help of the Stockton students and Dr. Elizabeth Pollock, Associate Professor of Chemistry. Next, the Stockton students help each grade school student build an apparatus to project laser figures using motors, rheostats, rotating mirrors, and laser pointers. The grade school students learn about motors, electrical circuits, optics and Laser safety, and are able to take the apparatus home with them. The day ends with a nature walk and scavenger hunt organized by Dr. Claudine Keenan, Dean of the School of Education, Justine Ciraolo, Executive Director, Academic Science Labs & Field Facilities, and the NAMS lab staff.
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Proximity to Community: Key in Homeland Security Course Students in the CRIM3320--Homeland Security course have served as tutoring assistants and mentors with the REACH after-school program at the Egg Harbor Community School for several semesters. The first goal of the project was to introduce the Stockton students to a population -- school–aged children –- who are often not the focus of security studies. They are often on the front line of Above: Students from Professor Jess Bonan-White's CRIM3320-Homeland Security course provide campus tours to middle witnessing the impact of homeland security and criminal justice policy in the media, and, unfortunately, often in their own homes. school students from Egg Harbor City. Photo Credit: J. White Secondly, the project was designed not only to provide service to a community facing key socio-economic challenges, but also to provide students with the opportunity to practice key skills required of criminal justice practitioners. The project was designed to challenge stereotypes of what homeland security practitioners do in the field. One school of thought in the field is that it is insufficient to simply place students in a homeland security agency, with a narrow focus. Instead, the goal is to challenge the college students’ capacity for critical thinking, and introduce students to a new aspect of ‘community' and the lifespan development model of children and adolescents. Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Jess Bonnan-White is proud of the students that jump ‘all in’ - rather than questioning the reasoning for spending their time at an after-school mentoring program, these students understand there is a larger purpose for the service-learning project. These same students often complete their reports on time, and demonstrate their dedication to getting the most from their studies, as well as developing their skills as a criminal justice professional. The CRIM students represent Stockton University in a South Jersey community struggling in ways similar to other communities in the area. At the end of the semester, over 20 Egg Harbor Community School students came to Stockton’s campus on a “field trip” (even though it was only 10 minutes down the road!). For the entire semester, Stockton students were coming into their “home,” and this time the EHCS students got to see their mentors in their own academic environment. They were excited, and, for some, this was the first time they had ever seen a college campus. Homeland Security and Criminal Justice are both fields that aim to produce practitioners that interact with community members. Experiential modes of teaching, including service-learning, encourage students to reflect on their desire to serve the public. Professor Bonnan-White is also very involved in the practitioner community as a volunteer and as an emergency management trainer. She stated recently, “I believe this community activity informs, and even improves my own teaching, and I want to provide students with a similar opportunity to develop their own identities as young professionals.”
Partnerships Focused on the Trials and Realities of Oncology Care in the US Within two sections of the Health Sciences course, HLTH2501--Teamwork & Collaboration in Health Care, Instructor of Health Science Anthony Dissen has the great opportunity to form excellent reciprocal relationships with two outstanding community partners. For the past year and a half, he has been working with David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation, and Gilda’s Club of South Jersey, two local organizations that work with individuals and families experiencing the trials and realities of oncology care in the United States. With both partners, students form inter-professional teams that work along with each organization to identify potential needs, and develop SMART goals to address these needs throughout the semester. Students learn that they must employ various skills such as conflict resolution, communication, and overall professionalism as they deal with the very real difficulties that all teams face in the professional world. Just as they must learn to view future patients and their family members as part of the healthcare team, rather than a group of people they are trying to “save,” so must they learn to work with their community partners and begin to view themselves as civically minded pre-professionals. Professor Dissen looks forward to this work continuing into Fall, 2018 courses. HYPHEN
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BONNER LEADERS LEADING THE WAY First Year Students Team up to Throw Spring Fling for The Arc of Atlantic County Bonner Leaders are student leaders that work with the Office of Service-Learning, developing leadership skills and supporting local community partners with projects and capacity building. During the Spring, 2018 semester, two first year Bonners organized their fellow Leaders to host a Spring Fling for The Arc of Atlantic County, a local organization and leading provider of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc helps people to live the lives they choose as part of their community. The agency is person-centered to better support the unique needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the Spring Fling was no exception. Spring Fling was specially designed with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in mind. There were activities and games, dancing, lots to eat, and a quiet space for anyone who needed a break from the action. Nicole Bilotti HLTH '21, and Caroline Sparacino EDUC '21, took care of all the details, from the donated food and DJ to the decorations. “We provided orientation for our volunteers, who were mostly college students, before the event. It is important that anyone working with people with IDD understand their unique needs and how best to support them,” said Sparacino.
Left: First-Year Bonner Leaders Nicole Bilotti, HLTH '21 (L) and Caroline Sparacino, EDUC '21 (R) stop for a quick photo with one of the exhibits at the Noyes Arts Garage in Atlantic City during the Spring Fling. Photo credit: Diana Strelczyk
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Atlantic County Animal Shelter is a Huge Draw for Hands-on (& Paws-on) Learning First year Bonner Leader Nicholas Camacho '21 PHYS, didn’t know at first what type of project he would work on as a Bonner Leader. “It was my choice, and there were so many interesting projects and community partners to work with,” he said. Ultimately, Camacho knew he wanted to work with an organization focused on animals, and reached out to the Atlantic County Animal Shelter. After setting up a service day as an introduction to where the shelter was and how volunteering worked, Camacho worked directly with Ashley Wilson, volunteer coordinator of the Atlantic County Animal Shelter to provide oncampus orientation, arrange transportation and other program logistics for all the potential volunteers. When the students were able to engage with the animals and build their socialization skills, Camacho knew he had developed a special relationship. “I know that students went back to work with the shelter after that day, and it is important work for both the animals and the college students.” This service project also served as the final program for the Inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Week of Service 2018.
Above: First-Year Bonner Leader Nick Camacho '21 PHYS (L) and Bonner Volunteer Sharaé Howell '20 SOWK (R) spend the afternoon with dogs and cats at the Atlantic County Animal Shelter in Pleasvantville. Photo credit: Kevin Coopersmith
Stockton Builds Mentorship Program with Local First Generation Students Through an internal grant, the Office of ServiceLearning received funds to encourage capacity building for first generation students coming to Stockton. First generation students are those who are defined as the first of their family to attend a college or university. Since college can be an overwhelming adventure for most students, having an experienced guide can considerably reduce stress. Several of the Bonner Leaders in the Office of Service-Learning have built a program to impact that stress. By heading out to local high schools and talking about their college experiences, the Bonners offer an active experience for students who might have questions or are interested in building relationships that will continue to blossom at Stockton. This mentorship was supported in 2017-2018 by Egg Harbor Township High School and Absegami High School. Additional area high schools will be added in 2018-2019.
Above: A happy farewell to the Bonner Class of 2018 during our annual Senior Brunch at the Stockton Seaview and Resort. From left to right: Ken Jones MBA,, Professor Betsy Erbaugh SOAN, Alicia Bauman-Jeanty PSYC, Nicole Wheatley LIBA, Sparkle Prevard SOAN, Mary Kelly McQuarrie COMM, Jessica Paszko POLS, Activist in Resident Travis Love, Flor Cruz-Morillo HLTH, Jodie Davis PUBH, and Brittany Beals HLTH. Photo credit: Diana Strelczyk
Bonner Leaders Blaze the Way for Social Justice One big advantage to being a Bonner Leader is the opportunity to travel to other campuses and around the country representing Stockton University. Students who receive the distinction for the Newman Civic Fellow travel annually to Boston for a two day conference. The Bonner Foundation, based in Princeton, NJ, hosts two major student-focused events each year. For Fall, 2017, Bonner World Congress was held at Siena College in Albany, NY. Several Bonner Leaders traveled there to focus on program capacity and leadership development. In June, 2018, five Bonner Leaders traveled to Wagner College with a professional staff member for the Summer Leadership Institute (SLI). Another important trip each June is the Civic Leadership and Democratic Engagement Annual Meeting, which occurred in Baltimore, MD in June, 2017. Six Bonner Leaders attended and presented at that conference, a nationally recognized academic civic engagement conference.
The 2017-18 school year saw tremendous growth and diversity to the Bonner Program. This infographic shows some of our progress.
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SKILL SHARING AROUND THE U.S. Left: Jen Domagal-Goldman, national manager of the American Democracy Project (ADP) at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and Daniel Fidalgo Tomé, director of Service-Learning and chair of the American Democracy Project Steering Committee at the ADP Organizing Meeting in Anaheim, CA, June 2018.
Building the Field of Service-Learning, One Session at a Time The student and professional staff of the Office of Service-Learning attended many local and national conferences, meetings and retreats to continue to provide updated services to our field of service-learning and civic engagement and share new knowledge with our Stockton community. The Bonner Foundation hosted a variety of opportunities from their New Directors Coordinators Meeting, to Bonner Congress, and Student Leadership Institute. These programs allowed our staff, undergraduate, and graduate students the opportunity to interact with other professionals and student leaders in the Bonner Network. In addition, OSL had the privilege to bring our students to Washington D.C. to attend the National Conference on Citizenship in October 2017. Daniel Fidalgo Tomé, director of Service-Learning, attended the AAC&U pre-conference symposium in Washington, D.C. in January 2018, the topic of the symposium was, "The Power of Civic Engagement—Across Campus, Within Communities, Beyond Border." Erin O’Hanlon ‘96, ‘06, program coordinator, attended and presented at the National Campus Compact Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana during March 2018 with, "A Shoe for Every Foot: Using a Learning Management System to Support Various Faculty Approaches." Diana Strelczyk, program coordinator, Ken Jones ‘16 BUSN, ‘18 MBA, Mary Kelly McQuarrie ‘18 COMM presented on “Utilizing Media Sources for Service-Learning, First Generation Programs & Bonner Signature Work” while attending the IMPACT Conference in Dayton, Ohio also during March 2018. The annual Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement ADP/TDC/NASPA Meeting in Anaheim, California, this past June - many of our staff and faculty had the opportunity to present. O'Hanlon presented on, "Doing Democracy, Building Community: Deliberation, Learning Circles, and Storytelling Presenters," while Tomé had the opportunity to facilitate dialogues with the "ADP Campus Leadership Network: Creating Impact and Building Civic Capacity Organizers," as well as present on, "Utilizing Alumni Affairs to Support ServiceLearning Courses," with Anthony Dissen, instructor of Health Science and Sara Faurot, director of Alumni Relations. Jones prepared a presentation on the," First Generation Impact Collaborative," for Tomé and O’Hanlon to present to our colleagues from across the country.
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"Students as Colleagues" Philosophy Leads to Professional Development of Bonner Leaders
As part of the philosophy that "students are colleagues," ServiceLearning dedicates resources and opportunities to Bonner Leaders and graduate students for professional skill building and networking. Each semester, second-year Bonners are sent to represent our campus during the annual Bonner Congress or "BonCon." The Fall 2017 BonCon was held at Siena College in New York, and featured five sophomore students : Jonathan Bowie '20 HLTH, Micah Edgehill '20 LITT, Sharaé Howell '20 SOWK, Jake Brarman '20 BUSN, and Juliana Murcia '20 HLTH. In March 2018, Mary Kelly McQuarrie '18 COMM, Ken Jones '16 BUSN, '18 MBA, and Diana Strelczyk, program coordinator, were selected to present during the IMPACT Conference in Dayton, Ohio. Their workshop titled "Utilizing Media Sources for Service-Learning, First Generation Programs, & Bonner Signature Work" reviewed undergraduate, graduate and professional uses for accessible media sources. Strelczyk also supported and drove four first year Bonners, Andrew Dicken '21 ENVL, Kevin Gil-Clara '21 BUSN, Maddie Dubbs '21 HLTH, and Paige Richards '21 BIOL, to the Summer Leadership Institute at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. In addition to Strelczyk's participation as a resume reviewer, the students attended workshops, met fellow students from the Bonner Foundation Network and networked with national service organizations for future opportunities. During this trip, the Stockton team took the Staten Island Ferry and New York Subway around Manhattan for a visit to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and dinner in Chinatown.
Top (L-R): Bonner Leaders Andrew, Kevin, Maddie and Paige experience Times Square in New York during the Bonner Summer Leadership Institute. Below (L-R): Diana and Bonner Leader Mary Kelly stop for a selfie infront of the University of Dayton Seal during the IMPACT Conference. Photo Credit: D. Strelczyk
And The Award Goes To...Stockton's Office of Service-Learning It is always an honor to be nominated, but winning three awards in a school year has been a whirlwind of appreciation. Stockton University was awarded the first AASCU’s Excellence and Innovation Award for Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). This award was based on the work the Stockton University American Democracy Project (ADP) achievements in civic and community engagement. Stockton President Dr. Harvey Kesselman accepted the award at the annual meeting in San Diego, California, which recognized the wide-ranging series of programs at Stockton. They include voter registration, feeding struggling families, and teaching students how to become more civically engaged for their professions and as a part of their own personal development. While the Constitution Day program in September and Martin Luther King Day of Service in January are among the more publicly visible examples of the ADP in action, students participate every day when they volunteer or intern in the community. “This is not just episodic,” Daniel Tomé, direct of Service-Learning and chair of the American Democracy Project Steering Committee said, “It’s built into our fabric. People here know what service-learning is. One of every eight students at Stockton is doing a service-learning project.” Stockton University also received an award this year for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and was honored as a “Champion of Good Works” by the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) at their Fifth Annual Chairman’s Reception on March 20 at Nanina’s in the Park, in Belleville, NJ. The award was accepted by Tomé and Diana Strelczyk, program coordinator of Service-Learning and MLK Day of Service co-chair.
Left: Kathleen Alexander, left, treasurer of CIANJ’s Board of Directors and a partner with Sax, LLP, Daniel Tomé, director of Service-Learning and Diana Strelczyk, program coordinator of ServiceLearning and MLK Day of Service.Co-chair.
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PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Above left (L-R): Associate Provost Carra Hood, Director of Service-Learning Daniel Tome, Newman Civic Fellow Bryan Gonzalez-Mejia '19 POLS, President Harvey Kesselman, Executive Director of the Stockton Center for Community Engagement Merydawilda Colon, and Provost Lori Vermeulen, Right: Sparkle Prevard '18 SOAN and (below) Jodie Davis '18 PUBH are Stockton's two previous Newman Civic Fellows.
Three for Three: Stockton University Students Who Have Won the Newman Civic Fellowship Since 2016, Stockton University has recognized three students for their commitment to civic engagement and their local communities. In 2016, it was kicked off with Sparkle Prevard '18 SOAN, a member of the Atlantic City community and someone who is passionate about youth leadership and development. Jodie Davis '18 PUBH, of Jersey City, received the nomination in 2017. Davis graduated May, 2018 with a Public Health degree and is focused on food justice. Prevard also graduated in May 2018. In 2018 Bryan Gonzalez-Mejia, '19 POLS, received the distinction. The Ewing, NJ, resident will graduate in May 2019. As a Newman Civic Fellow, Gonzalez-Mejia will attend the 2018 Newman Civic Fellows National Conference on Nov. 1718 in Boston, MA, and will have access to virtual learning opportunities throughout 2018-19. The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. The fellowship, named for Campus Compact founder Frank Newman, provides training and resources that nurture students’ assets and passions to help them develop strategies to achieve social change. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides learning opportunities focused on the skills fellows need in order to serve as effective agents of change in addressing public problems and building equitable communities.
Bonner Leader Heads to New Orleans for Newman’s Own Foundation Jodie Davis, '18 PUBH, is headed to New Orleans on a fully-funded fellowship part of the Newman’s Own Foundation as the 2018-19 Food Systems Fellow at PROPELLER. The fellowship encourages recent college graduates to eliminate issues such as poverty, economic inequality, food insecurity, racism and other systems of oppression. PROPELLER is a non-profit organization in New Orleans, LA, that helps entrepreneurs grown their non-profits and small business. Davis will be working on food justice issues, and providing research support for local organizations. Davis first found out about the fellowship opportunity while a Newman Civic Fellow, in 2017. “This fellowship gives me the opportunity to strengthen the leadership and professional skills I’ve obtained while at Stockton,” Davis said. “I’m very excited for what will come next on this journey.”
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Board of Trustees Fellowship for Distinguished Student: Flor Cruz-Morillo, '18 HLTH
Above: Flor Cruz-Morillo '18 HLTH. Photo credit Diane D'Amico
Bonner Leader Flor Cruz-Morillo, '18 HLTH, of Atlantic City received a $1,000 fellowship for a project titled, “New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) and College Pursuit.” Her faculty advisor is Instructor of Health Science Anthony Dissen. Cruz-Morillo said as an EOF student herself, she wants her project to help raise awareness of the program so more high school students can learn about it as an option to help pay for and succeed in college. Stockton University recently added an EOF program specifically focused on Atlantic City, and she is excited about the potential that program brings to her hometown. Cruz-Morillo has been accepted into AmeriCorps City Year Program and will be completing a year of service in Philadelphia during the 2018-19 school year. Her ultimate goal is to become a nurse.
Service Year Panels: A Collaboration with Career Center
Established in 2016 by Alumni Tim Schmidt '16 POLS, the Office of Service-Learning, Career Center, and Financial Aid encourage Stockton students to consider national service opportunities after graduation by hosting "Service Year Panels." Service years, sometimes called "gap years," are additional pathways to success for a variety of students. Organizations such as Peace Corps and Above (L-R): Daniel Tomé, director of Service-Learning, Dan Turkel, AmeriCorps provide 1-2 year positions around the US and globally Peace Corps Alumni, Tim Schmidt '16, City Year member, Angie to serve in communities facing issues such as hunger, poverty and Velez, assistant director of Financial Aid and AmeriCorps alumni, literacy. Volunteers often receive housing, living stipends and Dan Ackerman, program coordinator for the NJ Child Welfare professional experience before moving on to graduate school Partnership and AmeriCorps State & National Alumni, Kaite Yang, assistant professor of Psychology and AmeriCorps alumni, and Liz or the job market. During the 2017-18 school year, two panels Alexander '17 AmeriCorps VISTA. Photo Credit: D. Strelczyk. were held featuring current and former volunteers of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps (VISTA, City Year, State & National, and Recovery Corps) and ServiceYear.org. Since its inception in 2016, over a dozen Stockton students have participated and/or accepted service year positions as a direct result of this program. There are at least three graduates of the class of 2018 that are headed to CityYear Philadelphia. One of the benefits of the completing a service year is the Segal Education Award, which typically is over $5,000 to help with student loans or other educational-related costs.
Continued Partnership with AmeriCorps VISTA and Join Together Atlantic County Focuses on Substance Abuse Prevention, Reduction and Education
Left: AmeriCorps VISTA Liz Alexander '17 SOAN, volunteers during the 2018 MLK Day of Service in Galloway. Alexander serves at Join Together Atlantic County, and focused on substance misuse prevention. Photo Credit: D. Strelczyk
Join Together Atlantic County (JTAC) is a Substance Misuse Prevention Coalition, facilitated in partnership with Atlantic Prevention Resources, a prevention, treatment and recovery support agency. The primary goal of JTAC is to prevent, reduce, and/or delay substance use among youth of Atlantic County. This is done by partnering with the community to empower them to bring about change. As an AmeriCorps VISTA at JTAC, Liz Alexander '17 SOAN works on capacity building for the coalition. Some of her typical duties include: maintaining a bi-monthly newsletter, scribing meeting minutes, recording meeting attendance, tabling at community events, and updating the membership list. Some of the bigger projects she works on are: organizing volunteers for Knock Out Opioid Abuse day, running the Middle School poster PSA contest on underage drinking, and working with ServiceLearning classes at Stockton in projects focused on stigma reduction. Overall the goal of Alexander's service is to help create and maintain a plan for prevention in the community. HYPHEN
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TEACHING, BUILDING & LEARNING Above Left (L-R): Peg Slusser HLTH, Jessica Fleck PSYC, Jessie K. Finch SOAN, Daniel FIdalgo Tomé OSL, Betsy Erbaugh SOAN, Diana Strelczyk OSL, Erin O'Hanlon OSL, and Kaite Yank PSYC stop for a photo during the Office of Service-Learning & Civic Engagement Teaching Circle Symposium May 2018. Above Right (L-R): Christina Jackson SOAN and Yang present during the Service-Learning Symposium. Photo credit: Jessica Jacobs '18
Symposium Rounds Out Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Teaching Circle This June marks the formal end of the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Teaching Circle, generously funded by the Institute for Faculty Development. The Circle began in 2016 and was co-facilitated by Kaite Yang PSYC, Jessie K. Finch SOAN, and Daniel Fidalgo Tomé, director of the Office of Service-Learning (OSL). They are proud to report on the many accomplishments of the group, which included a dozen other faculty and staff for the two years the circle held formal meetings. In addition to forming a working list of goals for the advancement of service-learning at Stockton, the circle’s capstone event was the first symposium on service-learning at Stockton University. This occurred on May 16, 2018. The Symposium was attended by over 50 faculty, staff, administrators, Stockton alumni, community partners, and service-learning staff members at regional institutions (e.g. Montclair State University). This half-day event shared faculty and staff-led presentations and workshops on best-practices for incorporating service-learning into courses and models for how to connect service-learning with scholarship. In addition to planning and facilitating the Service-Learning Symposium, the Teaching Circle helped fund several faculty members’ attendance at the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Conference in June of 2017. The group hosted several useful meetings, such as an information session with Todd Regn, executive director for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and David King, associate professor of French, on internal funding and Scholarship of Engagement awards. Members of the Teaching Circle also worked to compile a document that outlines the application process for Scholarship of Engagement funding. The Teaching Circle shared a document listing scholarly and professional conferences that can serve as outlets for sharing service-learning research and pedagogy. Through this important work, the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Teaching Circle has provided an opportunity to take a macro-perspective on a teaching methodology at a pivotal time in the development of the institution. It offered faculty and staff both practical tips on the use of service-learning in the classroom and has explored the scholarly aspects of service-learning and civic engagement. Though the Circle has officially closed, many of those involved look forward to continuing this important work.
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SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM STANDARDS Service-Learning Project Guidelines for Faculty The service-learning experience is an integral part of the course/program/experience tied to course learning outcomes. It is recommended that the service-learning portion of the course account for 15-20% of the final grade. For example, clear service-learning objectives, outlined in syllabus, project plan not optional. Service projects are issue-driven and transformative in relation to the learning objectives of the course and community partner goals. Appropriate orientation ensures an opportunity to review project logistics, Office of Service-Learning (OSL) requirements, and expectations for student professionalism and time management. The Office of Service-Learning supports faculty in developing and implementing orientation strategies. Community Partners participate in Service-Learning orientation to introduce concepts to students in best practice models. Faculty, students, and community partners should endeavor to trust the process, be prepared for alteration/modification and some unanticipated results, which may themselves contribute to learning and student professionalization. Essential learning can still happen regardless of the process or outcome of project. For example, less predictability than anticipated, weather, no final product at the end of the semester.
Teamwork & Collaboration Faculty should recognize that creating a viable service-learning project with a community partner takes time, commitment, and an understanding of the needs and perspectives of all parties (community partner, students, faculty and OSL). Students, faculty/staff and community partners work collaboratively to ensure shared responsibility, primarily for the success of the learning experience, and secondarily for the success of the project, which is a dynamic work in progress. Communication between all stakeholders ensures accountability and transparency for the reciprocal relationship to stay true to objectives and goals set collaboratively. (For example, Phone calls, visits, emails throughout the semester as well as before/after)
Critical Thinking & Reflection Critical reflection establishes connections between the service-learning experience and essential learning. Critical reflection should include what was learned, what worked, what was challenging, and possible next steps. For example, delivery of critical reflection can include facilitated reflection session in-class and/or journal assignments. Students should engage in experiences that connect the theoretical frameworks learned in class with the lived experience of the service project. In addition, metacognition (thinking about thinking) is important in the context of the course and students’ educational and professional goals. Students may engage in critical consciousness through the service-learning experience to develop social change concepts and identify the connection to self. Critical reflection should include the community partner in the final assessment. This "close the loop" process can include students and community partners or can be done between faculty and community partner.
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ACTIVIST IN RESIDENT Above: Travis Love, Activist in Resident 2017-18, developed and implemented various "public theatre" spaces on campus, including staged readings, story slams, and The Vagina Monologues (bottom left), and a "Movement Workshop" at the "Spring Fling" in the Noyes Arts Garage, AC (bottom right). Photo credit: (Above) Diane D'Amico (Below) Diana Strelczyk.
Reflection Through a Critical Lens from the Activist in Resident My time as AIR at Stockton University was very interesting and rewarding. Many of the Bonner Leaders were involved in completing their own programs and tasks, stimulating campus life with politically and artistically inclined programs; I wasn’t sure where my ideas fit within the scheme or schedule of the Office of Service-Learning or campus life; I began to worry that I was brought in as AIR as a form of tokenism, yet with some guidance I began to meet people and plan projects. In the beginning of the year my plan was to host a story slam and a couple of staged readings, hopefully activate a shift in the campus climate and add a little of my flavor to the academic year. With the help of some extremely talented and busy Bonner Leaders, motivated faculty, and savvy staff members I was able to accomplish my goal, raising voices of marginalized and oppressed identities through art as activism. I knew I had an uphill battle because so often in institutions of higher learning, the lack of diversity creates oppressive spaces. And the arts are overlooked as a tool for community engagement and enlightenment. So when I decided to create videos of “Coming Out Stories” in honor of National Coming Out Day as my first project as AIR, I was surprised at how many brave students stood up to participate. However, I was not surprised that not one staff or faculty member participated in, or appeared in the campaign. Also, I set my sights on planning a staged reading of “The Book of Grace” by playwright Suzan-Lori Parks to follow with a discussion about race, gender politics and poverty. There were about 30 people in attendance, most had never attended a staged reading or even know what a staged reading was, but I was not deterred. I knew Stockton had a progressive history and once danced to the beat of its own drum; I knew students, staff, and faculty were just waiting for an opportunity to share their stories and be exposed to art as activism. Thank you and keep on dancing! - Travis Love, AIR 2017-18
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HYPHEN
LOOKING FORWARD Thank You for Reflecting on Our Past Year 2018-2019 is going to be an exciting year for many of our new programs, and a year of strengthening our foundational core programs. Our Faculty Fellow, Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Erbaugh will continue in her role and our newest Activist in Resident, Leanne Trapedo Sims, will serve as Stockton University’s Vera King Farris Faculty Fellow as well. They will be working closely with our servicelearning students, faculty, and community partners to create a richer and deeper experience for Stockton University stakeholders. The Office of Service-Learning is looking to expand our Bonner Leaders program by welcoming a new cohort. We will also introduce our new leadership initiative, Change Builders, sponsored by New Jersey Campus Compact. This student leadership tracks will allow Stockton students to engage in leadership throughout campus and the greater community. We will continue our First Generation Impact Collaborative to ensure that our Federal Work Study students, of which there are over 250 each semester, maximize their career opportunities. This is done by strategically matching them with area community partners that will act as co-educators in building their skills and preparing them for the workplace. This long time goal is being realized through the support of a grant from the Provost’s Diversity Committee and the Office of the Provost. The Office of Service-Learning looks forward to continuing to work closely with the newly established LIBA Community Leadership and Civic Engagement concentration and Atlantic City EOF Program. Both programs will be housed in our new Atlantic City campus. Finally, Service-Learning is excited about the opportunities for collaboration offered by Stockton’s expansion into Atlantic City. Atlantic City is a space rich with potential and opportunity, and we are excited to begin a new year there. Again, our sincerest thanks! Cheers, Daniel Fidalgo Tomé, Director Stockton University Office of Service-Learning Photos (Top to Bottom): 1.Bonner Leaders volunteer at the "Equal Means Equal" Film Screening, 2. Students from the Service-Learning Course HLTH2501: Teamwork and Collaboration with Professor Gibson teach nutrition and physical activity at the Free to Be Childcare Center on-campus, 3. Service-Learning Faculty Member Dr. Finch and Senior Bonner Leaders register students to vote during the "Civic Fair" session of the New Student Fall Day of Service and 4. Service-Learning Students work with area youth during a physics demonstration at Dr. Trout's "Day of Science."
HYPHEN
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S-L 2017-18 Thank you to the students, alumni, faculty, staff and community partners for making this work possible. Special thanks are in order for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) American Democracy Project (ADP), American Democracy & Political Engagement Project (PEP), AmeriCorps City Year of Philadelphia, Atlantic County Animal Shelter, Atlantic Prevention Resources & Join Together Atlantic County (JTAC), The Arc of Atlantic County, Board of Trustees, Campus Compact, Career Center, Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), New Jersey Campus Compact & AmeriCorps VISTA Program, Newman's Own Foundation, Noyes Arts Garage, Office of Development & Alumni Affairs, Office of Residential Life, Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Peace Corps, Schools of Arts and Humanities, Business, Education, General Studies, Health Sciences, Natural and Mathematical Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences, Service-Learning Teaching Circle, Service Year.org, Women's Gender and Sexuality Center. Please recognize the contributors to HYPHEN 2017-18 (in alphabetical order): Liz Alexander VISTA, Dr. Jess Bonan-White CRIM, Anthony Dissen HLTH, Dr. Jessie K. Finch SOAN, Travis Love AIR, Erin O'Hanlon OSL, Diana Strelczyk OSL, Dr. Joe Trout PHYS, and Daniel Fidalgo Tomé OSL.