Center for Community Development and Design

Service-learning at UCCS

Service-learning has been an integral part of CCDD for quite some time now. Through course work, faculty awareness, and vacation breaks, CCDD provides opportunities for service-learning to students, faculty/staff, and community members of Colorado Springs.

History

Since 1995 CCDD has been working with the different departments on campus to incorporate service-learning into the courses. The departments are Psychology, Geography and Environmental Studies (GES), Ethnic Minority Studies, and Interdepartmental Studies. In 1997, these courses were added: Economics, Philosophy, the Freshmen Seminar Program, Junior Seminar, and First Year Learning Experience Task Force.

In 1998, CCDD helped faculty earn two one-year grants, of $2,000 each, to add service-learning to their courses. The Computer Science and the GES departments benefited from this.

During one spring break, we coordinated a trip to the San Luis Valley that integrated Hispanic cultural awareness training through flood prevention. This project received a national award from the National Association of State Flood Plain Managers. (There is a documented video available at CCDD.)

Funding

In the previous four years, CCDD has received its funding for service learning from the Colorado Campus Compact through our CCI / AmeriCorps. This year, we've engaged in a variety of fund raising strategies to raise the support to continue and even expand our on- and off-campus service learning.

Currently

CCDD is running many service learning activities with the students at UCCS. One brand new addition to the program is the Service-learning Floor in the Housing Village at UCCS. There are currently 30 residents who volunteer their time, on the average, once or twice a month. There are also a few students who provide extra hours every week to give to East Middle School and to a blind student. So far the students have totaled 205 hours. There are two more planned activities for the semester.

College Life 101 is a program that brings at-risk junior high aged kids to the campus to get a taste of college life. They are here for a day and are paired up with a college student who matches their interests and backgrounds. While they are on campus they get to eat in the Lodge and the Overlook Cafe, they go to class with the students, get a tour, and hear from speakers about getting into college.

Freshmen Seminar Preview Daze has involved service learning for 2 years now and it continues to grow. This year there were 450 volunteers involved that worked at non-profit organizations all over the city of Colorado Springs. Their time and work amounted to 1,350 hours!

Contact Angela Hocevar for more information or to locate opportunities which best suit your skills and interests.

Learn to the Student Service-learning Club...