For Community Service-Learning Directors

Dear Colleague,

There is no doubt that the last two decades have seen an explosion in service-learning programs. We can count the increasing numbers of first-year students who enter higher education having already been involved in service-learning through high school service requirements and the steady annual increase in campus presidents committing their institutions to civic engagement by joining Campus Compact. Likewise, the increased use of service-learning across disciplines, within first year seminars and learning communities, tells us that we have more students and faculty engaged and excited about community-based learning than ever before. However, as a Director of Community Service-Learning Programs on your campus, you are also aware of the important knowledge and skills necessary to effectively move campuses toward institutionalization of service-learning programs, embed service-learning in curriculum and reward systems, conduct strategic planning, garner resources, and coordinate the many events and programs that originate out of these offices.

I am writing to ask your assistance in spreading the word to student leaders in your service-learning and engagement about a new opportunity. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is pleased to announce a new masters degree program in service-learning and engagement that will mentor and provide the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in this critical campus role. Our faculty bring both professional experience in service-learning and a record of scholarship on student and faculty engagement. Our advisory board of leaders in the field will assist us in mentoring, networking, and career placement.

As someone who directed service-learning programs before joining the faculty at UMass, I know we need to develop leaders of engaged campuses who are critical thinkers and passionate about developing reciprocal university-community partnerships that enhance learning, carryout high quality research, and improve our world. We have pulled Directors of Service-Learning, scholars who study service-learning and leaders of regional and national CSL organizations, to be part of an advisory board that will support students in our program. In short, I hope you will encourage your students to apply to our masters program. The deadline for graduate school applications is mid-January. Please spread the word to your student leaders, alumni, VISTA and AmeriCorps students, and anyone else you think might be interested.

I believe this new program will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to sustain new professionals over a long career.

Thank you,

Dr. KerryAnn O'Meara
Coordinator of Masters Track in Service-Learning and Community Engagement
Assistant Professor of Higher Education
Department of Educational Policy, Research, and Administration
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003 - 9308
tel: 413.545.0871
fax: 413.545.1523
email: kerryann@educ.umass.edu