Transcript Using On-Campus Service Learning Projects to Engage Commuter

Using On-Campus Service Learning Projects
to Engage Commuter Students:
“I attend this university, but I don’t know much about it except for
the parking lot.”
17,211 Students
• 89% from Oklahoma
• 19-1 Faculty/Student Ratio
Average Age = 25
• One-third = 25+
• One-third = Low Income
12% live on campus
• 44% of Freshmen
• 88% Commuter Students
UCO helps students learn through
transformative educational
experiences, growing productive,
creative, ethical and engaged
citizens and leaders.
Central Six
Service Learning
Service Learning is a pedagogy that exposes students
to the needs of the larger society by combining
service with explicit learning objectives and
deliberate reflection, giving equal benefits to both
the provider of the service and the recipient to
ensure equal focus on both the service being
provided and the learning that is occurring.
Mattson, M. & Hall, J. G. (2011). Health as communication nexus: A service-learning
approach. Dubuque, IA: Kendal Hunt.
Academically
based
Course
credit
Apply
classroom
knowledge
Journal,
paper,
presentation
Civic
responsibility
Gain
experience
Benefits
• Integration of theory
with practice
• Career/vocational
clarification
• Possible career
connections
• Sense of purpose
• Sense of social
responsibility
• Enjoyable experience
• Regard for cultural
differences
• Cognitive skills
• Problem-solving
• Increased knowledge of
course content
• Interpersonal skills
Barriers to Service Learning
• Students?
• Faculty?
• Recipients?
…like getting
the flu over
Christmas
break
Health Communication
• 4000-level course
• Focus on Health Theories
• Focus on Application
– Health Promotion
– Health Status
– Communication Competence
– Social Support
The mission of UCO Healthy Campus is to promote a
campus environment supportive of the
development and maintenance of a healthy body,
mind and spirit for all members of the University
of Central Oklahoma community.
Hope Takes Root Here
Central’s labyrinth is
the first at a public
university in
Oklahoma.
The paved 11-circuit
walking path was
designed with the
university’s mission in
mind.
I played a very significant role in this
project of starting a food recovery
program.
I was the only student working on it,
so it was up to me to coordinate with
stakeholders, figure out what needed
to be done, and keep pushing to
actually get it started.