Faculty Fellows Service-Learning Seminar

Service-Learning Faculty Fellows Program
Applications for Spring 2022 are due on November 5th 

The Center for Community Engagement accepts 5-6 faculty each year to participate in the Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program, in which faculty meet weekly during the spring semester to learn about service-learning pedagogy and redesign an academic course to include a service-learning component.  

The seminar lasts the full spring term and meets 1.5 hours/week. Faculty Fellows receive $2400 to teach the initial service-learning course, which can either be paid as direct compensation to the faculty member or paid to the faculty member’s school. If opting for the school payment, faculty should work with their academic unit to determine if funding can be used for a course release or, alternatively, used for project supplies and travel. Service-Learning Fellowships are open to full-time USM faculty members at the rank of instructor and above.  

Benefits of Faculty Fellows Program

• Stipend
• Interdisciplinary Dialogue and Collaboration 
• Pedagogical Training
• Logistical Support 
• Professional Development
• Community Connections
• Sample Syllabi and Syllabus Feedback  
• Mini-Grants or Awards

• October: Applications Available
• December:  Selection Notification
• January:     Seminar Begins  

Seminar meeting time is chosen based on participants' schedules. 

 What is Service-Learning?

• Relevant & Meaningful Service
• Enhanced Academic Learning
• Purposeful Civic Learning
• Balances the needs of students, academic content, and community-identified needs

• It’s a high-impact educational practice (Kuh, 2008)
• Students who participate in service-learning classes are more likely to complete degrees (Lockeman & Pelco, 2013)
• It positively affects students’
  • Understanding of social issues
  • Personal insight
  • Cognitive development (Yorio & Ye, 2011)