Join the hundreds of faculty who have participated in the Western New York Service-Learning Coalition (WNYSLC) Faculty Fellowship Program to engage over 10,000 students in community-based learning. This year’s Faculty Fellows program will be delivered virtually on Wednesday, January 11th and Thursday, January 12th.
Community partners are also encouraged to attend Faculty Fellows. Partners may attend the full training; however, Session Three will be of most interest, as it will focus on planning potential service-learning partnerships with faculty. The first two sessions will focus on integrating community-engaged learning into college courses.
Faculty Fellows applications are due by Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Apply today!
Fellowship Purpose
Service-learning faculty fellows will acquire an in-depth understanding of community engagement pedagogies and their use in service-learning courses during this intensive two-day training program facilitated by nationally recognized experts, and will be supported through the process of converting an existing course or creating a new course which incorporates service-learning.
Research demonstrates that connecting the classroom to the community through service-learning is an effective pedagogical strategy. College students who participate in civic engagement learning activities not only earn higher grade point averages but also have higher retention rates and are more likely to complete their college degree. They also demonstrate improved academic content knowledge, critical thinking skills, written and verbal communication, and leadership skills. Learn the skills and techniques necessary to incorporate this effective teaching methodology.
2023 Faculty Fellow Program Dates
The first day of Faculty Fellows will take place on Wednesday, January 11th from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm and from 2:00pm – 3:30pm. The second day, Thursday, January 12th, will begin at 2:00 pm and conclude at 3:30 pm. Fellows must commit to attending the entire program. Community partners are invited to attend the full program; however, Session Three will be of most interest. All sessions will be offered virtually.
January 11th, 2023:
Session One, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. : Service-Learning & Community-Engaged Learning Overview
- Introduction of Attendees
- Name, Position, Institution
- Identify Participant Goals and Objectives
- Service-Learning Basics: Pedagogy & Best Practices
- Breakout Rooms: Small Group Activity
Session Two, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. : Reflection
- Plenary Session: Focus on Reflection*
- Breakout Rooms: Various Group Discussions & Activities
January 12th, 2023:
Work On Your Own, Morning: Community Partner/Educational Design Unit
Session Three, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. : Course Design & Development
- Focus on the Fellows
- Course Design & Development: Feedback from Peers
- Developing Community Partnerships
- Breakout Rooms: Discussions with Comparable Institutions
- Final Reflection, Q&A, Closing Discussion
*NOTE: Plenary sessions on January 11th will be recorded and shared with institutional members of the Western New York Service Learning Coalition.
This year’s Faculty Fellows Program will focus on acquiring knowledge on service-learning pedagogy and the process of adding service-learning to a current course. The Faculty Fellows program will also connect faculty members to community partners interested in exploring virtual and on-site service-learning opportunities.
Eligibility
Fellowships are open to all faculty and staff from any department at a 2022-2023 WNYSLC member institution including:
- Canisius College
- Daemen University
- Hilbert College
- SUNY Buffalo State
- SUNY Erie
- SUNY University at Buffalo
- SUNY Niagara
NOTE: This year, the nominal attendance fee of $100 will be waived for individuals from other institutions in the WNY region. All community partners in the region are invited to attend at no charge.
The Fellow application is available online and may be submitted by individual faculty, by teams of faculty, or by departments interested in team-teaching or interdisciplinary collaborations. Applications are due by Tuesday, December 27, 2022.
Faculty Fellows will receive
- Professional service-learning and course conversion training and support;
- Assistance in identifying partner community groups or agencies and the opportunity to meet and converse with representatives from community organizations.
Expectations of Faculty Fellows
- Participate in both days of the service-learning faculty fellowship training.
- Design a new course or modify an existing course to include a service-learning component.
- Identify service-learning partner community organization(s) and meet with partner(s) to plan project and share service-learning objectives (e.g. syllabus).
- Teach the service-learning course during the following academic year.
- Share student reflections and feedback, if appropriate.
- Attend follow-up faculty fellow sessions as necessary.
- Maintain involvement in campus community engagement initiatives and WNYSLC.
WNYSLC member institution members can contact Rachel Wozniak, WNYSLC Director, for more information.
Western New York Service Learning Coalition 