The UHD Center for Public Service and Family Strengths has issued a call for proposals for a Community Engagement Mini-Grant, which will provide a $2,000 stipend for the Spring 2014 semester. The deadline was recently extended to March 1, 2014. Email completed proposals to cpsfs@uhd.edu.

Civic engagement, part of UHD's statement of shared values, as well as the new call to service issued by President Obama (http://www.serve.gov/), focuses on the opportunity to make a personal connection to complex social problems in our communities. Several content areas are involved in reality-based education (also known as community-based education), an arm of service-learning.

Service-learning is recognized as one of the high-impact initiatives for student success. Additionally, it aligns with UHD's mission statement, creates campus-community partners, uses civic involvement to meet specific learning objectives of an academic course, engages students and invigorates teaching, and creates research and publishing opportunities.

Resources for a more detailed discussion include: http://www.servicelearning.org/higher-education-sector

http://www.compact.org/

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A. Course information and learning outcomes.

B. Three- to five-page proposal to address the following questions: How will the outreach enrich learning? How will it connect classroom theory to practice and serve the community? How will the initiative strengthen students' critical thinking while fostering civic responsibility? Which assessment measures could be used to evaluate the impact on student engagement, retention, and guide improvement?

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Service Learning Committee selects awardees that meet the criteria.

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1. Meet with the Executive Director to plan service-learning objectives.

2. Contact potential community partners. Develop relationship with partners as co-educators.

3. Design service-learning activity to enhance course objectives and address community needs.

4. Submit syllabus to the Center for Public Service and Family Strengths.

5. Teach a course fall, 2014 and write a summary of your experiences and recommendations for service learning after course completion.

6. Share student feedback and personal reflection with fellow recipients to develop a climate of support.