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Study Groups
Perspectives on International and Intercultural Service-Learning
This 3-part reading group meets from 12-1:30 on the last Monday of
each month (Sept 28, Oct 26, & Nov 30) and will focus on readings and
discussion about international and intercultural service-learning.
Topics will include issues related to culture, context, and student
learning outcomes in international, community-based service-learning
settings. Reading selections will be made available to registered
participants. Although participation in all three sessions is
encouraged, anyone is welcome to attend any individual meeting.
Sept 28: Theoretical Foundations of International Service-Learning
Oct 26: International and Intercultural Perspectives on Service-Learning
Nov 30: Student Outcomes of International Service-Learning
Registration is required, please click here to sign up.
Free Online Forum for Graduate Students
GradShare is a Web site developed to help grad students by putting you in touch with peers from across North America. GradShare forums are filled with discussions about topics such as academic challenges and work/life balance, while “Expert Advice” gives a quick overview of important topics. It is free and open to anyone in North America with a university e-mail address.
The Books to Prisoners Project
Books to Prisoners is a program in which inmates in the Illinois prison system can request books that meet their needs, which are provided to them at no cost. Books To Prisoners also stocks, staffs and organizes two libraries in the Champaign County jail system. In addition, this group has partnered with Spineless Books to publish the writing and art of prisoners.
GSLIS students have volunteered on several projects with this group including:
-Sorting books to fulfill prisoner requests
-Becoming volunteer jail librarians
Community Literacy and Service Learning Research
This group will form in fall 2009 to consider contemporary conceptions of service and citizenship and their connection to the Champaign-Urbana community. Over the year, the group will (a) discuss theory and case studies of community literacy and service learning; (b) research the local network of community organizations and resources; and (c) generate public texts to disseminate research and forge sustainable service relationships.
Contact: Martha Althea Webber (mwebber2@illinois.edu)
Service-Learning and Scholarship of Engagement Interest Group
The Center for Teaching Excellence is running a interest group for graduate students and faculty on service-learning and the scholarship of engagement.
Contact Valeri Werpetinski (werpetin@illinois.edu).
Visit their "ning" at: http://engagedillinois.ning.com/
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Students and faculty of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning recently reinstituted the Planners Network Chapter at UIUC. This is a group interested in planning and social justice issues and aimed to bridge connections between the university and the community. We meet outside of class and individual projects to learn what excites others about planning and community development and share passions, motivations and backgrounds involving social justice. We would like to extend the invitation not only to students and faculty of DURP, but also to other UIUC members as well as people from the Champaign-Urbana area and community organizations interested in social justice issues.
We created a listserv that you can join by clicking on this link.
Please extend the invitation to those people that may be interested in participating.