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Service learning programs
Academic service learning programs, through
which students apply their classroom experience to make
a difference in the community, are thriving in several
schools. Many are supported by $5,000 Service Learning
Faculty Fellow Awards provided by the Office of the
Provost each year. Examples include:
- The School of Liberal Arts: Second-and
third-year students in Purdue’s Spanish program
help Hispanic students with homework at two elementary
schools and McCutcheon High School. Contact: Howard
Grabois, professor of foreign languages and literatures.
- The School of Agriculture:
- Agriculture students mentor and tutor students
at Cold Spring Academy in Indianapolis once a
week. Lectures and discussion take place during
the bus rides to and from Indianapolis. In the
process, the Purdue students develop leadership
and cross-cultural communication skills. Contact:
Pamala Morris,
professor of youth development and agricultural
education.
- Horticulture and landscape architecture students
provide community planning and design services
to Lafayette and West Lafayette based agencies.
They focus on revitalization and economic development
projects. Students develop real-life skills outside
of the classroom while serving the community.
Contact: Kim
L. Wilson, professor of horticulture and landscape
architecture.
- The School of Veterinary Medicine:
Students of veterinary medicine provide housing in
the vet school for families that need to leave their
homes and need temporary shelter for their pets. Many
clients reside in the women’s shelter. Students
learn about societal issues while serving the community
and providing animal care. Contact: Janice
Sojka, professor of veterinary medicine.
- The College of Engineering:
Engineering
Projects in Community Service
William Oakes,
EPICS Co-director
Engineering Projects in Community Service, Purdue’s
largest service learning program, enables engineering
students to weave volunteerism into their classroom
experience. Teams of undergraduates earn academic
credit for multiyear, multidisciplinary projects
that solve engineering- and technology-based problems
for community service and educational organizations.
Currently, the engineering-centered program involves
approximately 20 different departments, 300 students
and 24 teams working on projects ranging from homelessness
prevention to environmental protection to creating
toys for children with disabilities. Programs based
on the Purdue model are operating at 20 other universities
in the United States. Many of these programs works
with Habitat for Humanity.
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