Community-based or service learning is an experiential pedagogy that combines direct service with course learning goals to meet a community-defined need. The Center for Civic Engagement offers curriculum development grants to support the integration of community-based learning components into existing courses.  Grant recipients receive a $1,500 stipend for curriculum development work.  Faculty recipients work through the Center to identify community partners and projects and post their syllabus in the Center.

The intial application deadline for 2013-14 courses is January 25, 2013.  If funds are not exhausted at that time, additional applications will be taken on a rolling basis.  Interested faculty should submit a letter of application to Stacey Riemer.  The letter should include:

• The course name, number and anticipated/maximum enrollment
• The intended learning outcomes  / educational value of the community-based learning experience for students as it applies to the course
• Expectations for how community-based learning will help achieve the goals of the course
• Initial ideas for the nature of the service experience or types of organization with whom you would like to work
• Early ideas for the types of assignments that could connect the learning goals of the course to the direct service experience
• Summary of activities / workplan to develop the course over the summer
• A statement of commitment to teach the course with the integrated service component during the 2013-14 academic year, and
• Indication that approval has been given by your department chair to integrate community-based / service learning components into your course.

While funding is intended to support the development of new community-based learning components in existing courses, the committee will consider support for courses that have previously included community-based learning components if the proposal describes the ways you intend to change or develop assignments and projects from the previous offering.

If you are considering applying for course development support, but would like more information about community-based learning please contact Stacey Riemer at 704-894-2133 or striemer@davidson.edu. The Center for Civic Engaegment has a wealth of course development resources including sample course syllabi from specific disciplines and staff with expertise in community-based pedagogy.