Service Learning Living Learning Community Syllabus

Living Learning Community: Service Learning Community Academic Year: 2017-2018 Location: Virginia Hall in the Historic Neighborhood

LLC Advisor(s): Kyle Anderson Kyle Anderson is the Assistant Director of Student Community Engagement Programs in the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement and supports a variety of co-curricular programs and initiatives for students related to service and community engagement.

Office: Moseley Center 233A Email: [email protected] Phone: 336-278-7249

Department: Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement Living Learning Community Description

The Service Learning Community (SLC) is a community for incoming first-year students interested in service. The SLC exists to introduce students to campus and community, provide a foundation of social justice education, and discuss the importance of service in a college setting. Since the SLC is made of first-year students, there is also a strong transition piece, with members moving in three days early for an SLC-specific orientation and a mentoring program set up with upper-class students who are alumni of the SLC. Members of the SLC take what they learn their first-year and go on to become active and engaged leaders during their time at Elon. The SLC introduces students to the theory and pedagogy of service-learning by discussing aspects like asset based community development, ethical community engagement, community partnerships, and effective service. Members of the SLC deepen their service commitments in the spring as they delve into a long-term service experience. Some SLC members are able to achieve their Service ELR through the SLC. This community is an intentional mix of curricular and co-curricular opportunities, all driven by the student leadership team.

Learning Outcomes

By participating in the service learning living learning community, students will:  Understand and appreciate the need for justice, equity, and fairness for all members of a community  Consider and appreciate the value of diverse beliefs, ideas, and worldviews.  Connect knowledge and experiences from their own academic discipline to their work with communities.  Demonstrate a commitment to work collaboratively with communities to advance the common good and reflect on the impact of one’s actions Requirements

 Perform a minimum of 25 hours of service each semester. At least 15 of these hours must be done with the SLC and up to 10 may be done outside of the SLC independently or with other groups or organizations.  Attend and actively participate in reflections after each service event.  Participate in at least 2 out of every 4 service projects held by the SLC each month.  Take an active role in educating myself about the social issue that is highlighted by the SLC each month.  Attend and actively participate in the SLC weekly meeting.  Act within the guidelines of the Elon Honor Code, meeting both social and academic requirements.  Be respectful and considerate of my fellow SLC members, the Service Learning Leaders, other members of the Elon community, and all persons involved with our community partners.  Be a good representative of the SLC to the greater Elon/Burlington community.  Maintain my commitment to the SLC for my entire freshman year. This includes living on the hall for the entire year and participating in the community’s events to the best of my ability.

Course Opportunities

All students who sign-up to participate in the SLC take COR 110: The Global Experience course together during the fall semester.

LLC Traditions  Early move-in and SLC orientation  Ongoing participation in a variety of group service projects that focus on learning about and addressing different social justice issues in the local community  LLC campus wide initiatives  Individual or small group volunteer experiences during the spring semester with one specific community partner of interest  Peer mentorship opportunities with SLC alumni  Fall and Spring Retreats  Family Weekend Social Gathering  End of Semester Fall Celebration  Spring Semester Social Issues Dinner and Senior Send off

Important Dates  Early move-in day: Wednesday, August 23rd from 8:00-11:30am – Virginia Hall  Welcome Lunch: Wednesday, August 23rd at 12pm – Numen Lumen  SLC Orientation: Wednesday, August 23rd-Friday, August 25th  LLC Kick-Off Event: Tuesday, August 29th from 6:30-7:45pm  Fall Service Projects and Events: Ongoing o August: Kopper Top o September: Allied Churches, Rise Against Hunger, Loy Farm, Boys and Girls Club o October: Positive Attitude Youth Center, Boys and Girls Club o November: Habitat for Humanity, Furniture Ministry  Fall weekly meetings: Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30pm o Topics for meetings will include but not be limited to: food insecurity, mentor-mentee reveal, educational inequality, inclusion/diversity, privilege, mental health o Some meetings will involve guest speakers who will discuss relevant issues that involve successfully transitioning and navigating Elon  Fall Retreat: Date to be determined  Spring Retreat: Date to be determined  Spring Social Issues Dinner and Senior Send-Off: Date to be determined