<rev: 7/27/16>
Evaluating community based activities of faculty in the RTP process
Instructions:
1) Take turns reading each of the activity descriptions below
2) Determine independently which categories (Teaching (T), Scholarship/Creative Activities
(S/C), Service (Se)) the activity should be recorded and valued in the RTP review. (More
than one category may be possible.)
3) Tally, share, and discuss your reasons behind your categorizations
Activities
1. An assistant professor of History conducts a service-learning course on
urban architecture where students perform a walking tour of local
neighborhoods and produce a map of homes and businesses and their
architectural features. Students interview local residents and collect
personal recollections of the neighborhood’s evolution. On two occasions
the instructor has used these stories along with photographs and his own
knowledge of the city’s history to create presentations to the historical
society to win designation of certain buildings as historical landmarks.
2. An assistant professor of Business Management was contracted by a state
agency to perform an evaluation of statewide program that provides
grants to businesses to retrain their workers so that the business may
remain competitive with out-of-state competition. The professor’s
service-learning students interview small and minority business owners
to determine why they have not applied for these funds. The result of the
study was a 100 page report to the agency that analyzes barriers to small
business participation.
3. An assistant professor of Education is hired by a school district in St.
Louis to assess the effectiveness of computer aided instruction
courseware developed by a private education firm to teach students
ethical values and leadership skills. The assessment involves designing
pre and post test instruments to measure changes in student attitudes and
behaviors. Prior to the study the professors’ students field test the
questionnaire at a local school. The study’s results lead to the adoption of
the software by the school district.
4. An assistant professor of Nursing conducts an international service
learning course in which students travel to a country in southern Africa
and present health education sessions at family clinics on contraceptive
methods. Most of the clients are non-literate, and the professor and
students must create visual and physical teaching aids suitable to this
clientele. The professor receives an award from the governor of the
province they visit and a commendation from the UN for her
contributions.
Categories
T
S/C
Se
T
S/C
Se
T
S/C
Se
T
S/C
Se
Activities
5. An assistant professor of Broadcast and Communication Arts conducts a
service learning course each semester where students produce public
service announcements for local community based organizations. The
course is combined with a course in Marketing and the Marketing
students first do a market survey of how to best get across the message of
the organization, then hand off a marketing plan to the Broadcast
students to produce the PSA. Clients have included organizations who
work to reduce teen violence, provide hospice service to the elderly, or
provide energy efficient light bulbs to small businesses. Each semester
the Broadcast faculty member spends nearly 150 hours editing the
students work to produce professional quality ads that are aired on local
television.
Categories
T S/C
Se
T
S/C
Se
T
S/C
Se
6. An assistant professor of English who specializes in teaching teachers of
English as a second language offers a service-learning course in which
students work with recent immigrants who are preparing for the
citizenship exam. While working with this group, the students collect
stories of their personal histories and travails. The instructor uses the best
of these stories to create a new text for teaching English which is very
effective with other immigrant groups because the stories resonate with
them.
7. An assistant professor of Computer Science conducts a service-learning
course where students work with small, minority-owned businesses
developing online stores to offer their products and services on the web.
The professor develops specifications describing the capacity, security,
privacy, and performance needs for these stores and works with the
minority Chambers of Commerce to find a internet company to serve as
host for these websites.