Citizenship and Service-Learning
In the spring of 2004, CASL conducted an assessment of its service-learning program. The instrument used was the Self-Assessment Rubric for the Institutionalization of Service-Learning in Higher Education developed by Dr. Andrew Furco, University of California, Berkeley. The survey outcomes indicated that service-learning on the Missouri State campus is at the highest level of the Furco rubric - State 3-Sustained Institutionalization for three areas: 1) the dimensions of student support for the involvement in service-learning; 2) community participation and partnerships; and 3) institutional support for service-learning. Areas that were identified in Stage 2 - Quality Building - included 1) philosophy and mission of service-learning and 2) faculty support for and involvement in service-learning. CASL used assessment results to plan and adapt future priorities and goals. For example, a standard definition of service-learning was crafted to reflect the University's expression of this pedagogical tool. Also, the two new CASL initiatives, i.e., the Service-Learning Faculty Fellows and CASL Research Stipend, were implemented in the spring of 2005.