February 28
What:
MS 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association
Conference Service-Learning Presentation
Where: TBD
When: 9:00 -11:30
April 2
What:
Service-learning mini-grants proposals due.
April 29
What:
Sweet Success of Service-Learning Thank-You Event
Where: Bost "B"
When: 2:00 - 3:00
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Stay Connected
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 | | Ms. Alexis Tentler, Dawn Brancheau Service-Learning Scholar, introduces Flat Bully to Sudduth Elementary second-grade students |
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Spring 2015 Service-Learning Highlight
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Ms. Alexis Tentler, a senior majoring in Animal and Dairy Science with a pre-veterinary science concentration, is one of CASLE's four Dawn Brancheau Service-learning Scholars. Her "Flat Bully" service-learning project focuses on promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles for dogs as well as their young caretakers. With help of her mentors, Dr. Carolyn Huntington and Ms. Jamie Larson (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), Ms. Tentler created a second-grade curriculum engaging the Sudduth Elementry students in exercise, reading, and learning geography. Way to go, Alexis!
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Service-Learning Mini Grants
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Do you have an idea for a service-learning project? We can help you fund it! CASLE service-learning mini-grants directly support activities related to developing, implementing, or expanding service-learning opportunities for Mississippi State students or 4-H youth. Service-learning integrates meaningful community service with academic course or 4-H objectives and critical reflection to enrich the educational experience of students and youth to teach civic responsibility, and meet the needs of a community.
Applicants may request up to $500 for service-learning course or project support; applications are due April 2nd, 2015.
Award announcements will be made April 29th, 2015. Visit our website for more information and the CASLE service-learning mini-grant application packet:
http://servicelearning.msstate.edu/files/minigrant.pdf
If you missed our service-learning mini-grant workshop on February 5th, you can view the recording here.
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CASLE and the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement (SLCE) will host a panel discussion and hands-on seminar for faculty to learn more about how the online software system, OrgSync can be used to catalog student service-learning hours. Panelists will include those who have used OrgSync to log student hours during an academic semester.
The presentation will take place on April 1, 2015; from 1-3 pm, in 1405 Presentation Room in the Mitchell Memorial Library.
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Dawn Brancheau Service-Learning Scholarships
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Thanks to the generosity of The Dawn Brancheau Foundation, CASLE will offer four service-learning scholarships during the 2015-2016 academic year. These funds provide money for students to pay tuition while completing service-learning projects.
The application packet will be available at the beginning of March; application deadline is April 6. Please nominate a deserving student; contact CASLE for more information.
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Service-Learning Project Ideas for 4-H
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Emergencies and disasters are extremely stressful. While they cannot be prevented, some stress can be removed by being prepared.
A disaster kit is a collection of basic items a family may need in the event of an emergency. It has to be portable, pre-assembled, ready to be used at a moment's notice, and contain water, food and other essentials to support a family for a minimum of 72 hours. Learning about disaster supply kits and passing on the information to others in the community can make a worthwhile 4-H project. The participants can investigate what the kits should contain, prepare a sample one, and disseminate what they have learned through a program in schools or a local library. Let us know if we can help you with your service-learning projects!
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Service-Learning Highlights
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Service-Learning Guidance
Focus Area:
Overview of service-learning (book)
Publication Title:
Service-Learning Essentials provides in-depth answers to the most common questions and concerns about service-learning. It explains what service-learning is, the importance and methods for facilitation of critical reflection, provides guidance in establishing and maintaining campus-community partnerships, and suggests solutions for successful implementation and assessment of service-learning projects. This is a great resource for service-learning novices and seasoned practitioners alike.
Reference:
Jacoby, B. (2014). Service-learning essentials: Questions, answers, and lessons learned. John Wiley & Sons.
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Service-Learning Fact
Results of a Prentice and Robinson (2010) study on community college students suggest that participation in service-learning projects resulted in significantly higher scores on critical thinking; communication; career and teamwork; civic responsibility; global understanding and citizenship; and academic development and educational success as compared with the scores of students who didn't participate in service-learning courses.
Reference:
Prentice, M., & Robinson, G. (2010). Improving student learning outcomes with service learning. American Association of Community Colleges (NJ1). Retrieved from: http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Resources/aaccprograms/horizons/Documents/
slorb_jan2010.pdf
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Service-Learning Funding Sources
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In each of our newsletters we feature a number of grants which can be used for a variety of initiatives. Perhaps browsing through them will spark an idea for a service-learning project; let us know if we can help.
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 Youth Development * National Institute of Food and Agriculture Grants
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) program aims to advance excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agricultural sciences. Application deadline: March 16, 2015.
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Health Promotion and Nutrition
The FDA recognizes the value of supporting high quality, small conferences and scientific meetings relevant to its mission and to the public health. This grant can fund a symposium, seminar, workshop, or any formal meeting, whether conducted face-to-face or virtually to exchange information and explore a defined subject, issue, or area of concern impacting the public's health within the scope of the FDA's mission. Sample focus areas include:
Agriculture, Business and Commerce, Consumer Protection, Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Information and Statistics, Natural Resources and Regional Development. Submission deadline: June 16, 2017.
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 Science, Technology, Engineering & Math The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) seeks proposals to stimulate young pupils in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Target audience for the program funded by this grant include primary, middle, and high school students in selected Mississippi counties.
Submission deadline: ongoing. No applications will be accepted after January 31, 2016.
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 Economic and Consumer Development Grants, up to $5,000, are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. Grants are given in the form of Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. Priority will be given to projects that serve veterans and their families, for example repairing homes or improving facilities, or projects that involve veterans volunteering to help other veterans in the communities in which they live. Submission deadline: September 1, 2015. |
 Global Affairs
This grant program aims to create U.S-Saudi partnerships that focus on the development of exchanges, projects and partnerships between U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Projects may include, but are not limited to: academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects; cultural, professional and academic exchanges and projects; professional development workshops and training. Application deadline: June 30, 2015. |
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Center for the Advancement of Service-Learning Excellence
Phone: (662) 325-2370
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