Faculty and/or professional staff teaching a course in the fall or spring of 2009/10 are invited to submit proposals for mini-grants to integrate service-learning into a course(s) that will demonstrate clear learning outcomes specifically in the areas of critical and creative thinking while addressing an identified community need.

The QEP Service Learning Project will make funds available for the successful applicants to develop and implement a course in fall or spring 2009/10 that will include service-learning as pedagogy. Full-time faculty and professional staff who teach are eligible to apply to develop a new course or redesign an existing one that incorporates the pedagogy of service-learning (see definition below). Teams of faculty, multi-disciplinary proposals, and projects from individual faculty are encouraged but preference will go to those with the potential to make the most significant impact on the number of faculty and students participating in service-learning. The proposed service-learning course(s) will be taught in fall 2009 or spring 2010 semester, with responsibilities to the project beginning in spring 2009 semester and ending in fall 2010 semester. In an effort to expand this program to as many faculty and students as possible, former QEP Service-Learning Grantees are ineligible.

Service-Learning Definition:
Service Learning is a critical component of EKU's QEP program initiatives with the purpose of promoting EKU's QEP: EKU has adopted the following definition of service-learning, adapted from:  Seifer, S.D. (1998): 

An experiential educational method in which students participate in an organized service activity meeting community needs and reflecting on the service activity in such a way as to develop critical thinking skills, and develop an enhanced sense of civic responsibility.

Visit http://www.servicelearning.eku.edu/ for additional definitions/explanations.

Timeline:

• October 17, 2008:  RFP is publicized
• November 17, 2008:  Proposal submission deadline (no exceptions)
• Mid-December 2008:  Notification of award; Begin new course application process to designate the course(s) with the letter “S”, i.e. POL 101S
• Spring 2009:  Professional development activities and meetings; Completion of “S” designation process
• Summer 2009:  Professional development activities and meetings
• Fall 2009:  Begin teaching course(s) if applicable; Recruiting new grantees
• Spring 2010: Begin teaching course(s) if applicable; Mentoring 2010/2011 grantees
• Summer 2010: Continue to meet/mentor 2010/2011 grantees/Opportunity to apply for scholarly work funding
• Fall 2010:  Presentations to the University community about projects; Continue with mentoring as needed

Budget
Allowable funds to request: Each request must include a clear justification for the funds.

• $2,600 faculty stipend per course, to develop SL course and complete all required expectations (see list on next page). This can be divided among team members (if desired), with any divisions clarified in the proposed budget
  Stipends will be paid at the end of the semester in which the SL course is taught.
• Up to $ 7,000 for student worker assistance, supplies, and/or other operating costs, which must be described and justified in detail within budget

Scholarly Work:
A separate competitive process will be required for the purpose of engaging in scholarly activities such as: research, survey creation and analysis, preparing project reports for distribution at pedagogical conferences, preparing studies for publication or presentation. Applicants selected for the grant will receive additional information about scholarship opportunities as they become available.

Recipient Expectations:
In order to receive funds all award recipients will be expected to:

• Develop community partnership(s) and identify a specific community need
• Develop and implement the service-learning course(s),
• Submit service-learning courses for “S-designation”—meaning each involved course will be approved with the “S” suffix (i.e. POL 101S) in accordance with the procedures outlined on the Service-Learning website, http://www.servicelearning.eku.edu/
• S-designation process must clear all appropriate levels by spring 2009.
• Participate in specific professional development workshops, beginning in spring 2009 (CT workshop, SL workshop, assessment workshop)
• Adopt a model of critical thinking to infuse in the classroom (such as the Linda Elder/Richard Paul model)
• Facilitate student and community partner evaluations and engage in specific assessment requirements
• Provide mentoring for future grant recipients by attending meetings and making regular contacts during spring/summer/fall of 2010