Dollar amount placed on Service-Learning
Eau Claire students provide about $1.5 million worth of work during year
Lindsey Lewandowski
Issue date: 9/12/05 Section: Campus News
According to its Web site, Jumpstart is a national non-profit early education organization.
Mowry said Jumpstart was expanding nationally and alerted colleges to the opportunity to join, and Eau Claire's Service-Learning
Center responded.
"It seemed like a good match, so we worked with national the Jumpstart development team and brought Jumpstart to Eau Claire," he said.
The first corp, composed of 40 Eau Claire students, began in 2002. This year, there are 60, Mowry said.
After completing 300 hours of service, corp members typically earn a $1,000 education award to be used for tuition or paying off federal loans.
"They're making a big difference in the life of a child," Mowry said.
While he said putting a dollar amount on service devalues it, he also said the estimate using Independent Sector figures is important because it's beneficial for any non-profit agency to document how much service it provides. Then, when the agency seeks grants, for example, it can show it's involved with the community.
"(The estimate) definitely represents, from our standpoint, an indication that this campus follows through with its strategic plan to be engaged in the community," Mowry said.
He said students may have even contributed more hours than what was calculated because, for example, if a student interned, he or she may have put in 480 hours, but it counts as a 30-hour project.
"You put in so much time (interning)," said senior Andrew Pamprin, a sociology major who will have to intern. He said he hasn't found one yet.
Also, Mowry can only see how many students are enrolled in Service-Learning option courses. If a student opts to do a service project in such a course, the hours wouldn't be counted in the annual tally.
While several universities have service-learning programs, Eau Claire's is extensive because it offers undergraduate research opportunities, a national exchange and study abroad program, capstone and internships, as well as leadership that supports it, he said.
Deanna Richardson, assistant administrator at Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation, worked with about five students last semester. She said students worked about three hours a day until they fulfilled their requirement, assisting with daily events such as bingo and
card games.
"It's good for the residents here to get that one-on-one ... besides the employees giving them personal care," she said of the benefits of Eau Claire's Service-Learning program sending students into the community.
Mowry said the total number of hours Eau Claire students devote to Service-Learning is only one example of the university's involvement in the area.
"It's one indicator," he said. "There are several ... I think the university has many, many examples of engagement with the community."
Mowry said Jumpstart was expanding nationally and alerted colleges to the opportunity to join, and Eau Claire's Service-Learning
Center responded.
"It seemed like a good match, so we worked with national the Jumpstart development team and brought Jumpstart to Eau Claire," he said.
The first corp, composed of 40 Eau Claire students, began in 2002. This year, there are 60, Mowry said.
After completing 300 hours of service, corp members typically earn a $1,000 education award to be used for tuition or paying off federal loans.
"They're making a big difference in the life of a child," Mowry said.
While he said putting a dollar amount on service devalues it, he also said the estimate using Independent Sector figures is important because it's beneficial for any non-profit agency to document how much service it provides. Then, when the agency seeks grants, for example, it can show it's involved with the community.
"(The estimate) definitely represents, from our standpoint, an indication that this campus follows through with its strategic plan to be engaged in the community," Mowry said.
He said students may have even contributed more hours than what was calculated because, for example, if a student interned, he or she may have put in 480 hours, but it counts as a 30-hour project.
"You put in so much time (interning)," said senior Andrew Pamprin, a sociology major who will have to intern. He said he hasn't found one yet.
Also, Mowry can only see how many students are enrolled in Service-Learning option courses. If a student opts to do a service project in such a course, the hours wouldn't be counted in the annual tally.
While several universities have service-learning programs, Eau Claire's is extensive because it offers undergraduate research opportunities, a national exchange and study abroad program, capstone and internships, as well as leadership that supports it, he said.
Deanna Richardson, assistant administrator at Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation, worked with about five students last semester. She said students worked about three hours a day until they fulfilled their requirement, assisting with daily events such as bingo and
card games.
"It's good for the residents here to get that one-on-one ... besides the employees giving them personal care," she said of the benefits of Eau Claire's Service-Learning program sending students into the community.
Mowry said the total number of hours Eau Claire students devote to Service-Learning is only one example of the university's involvement in the area.
"It's one indicator," he said. "There are several ... I think the university has many, many examples of engagement with the community."