Service Learning Facilities for Bowdoin Faculty

Consultation
CSRC staff can meet with individual faculty who are interested in developing a service learning course. This individual consultation can provide faculty with an introduction to the broad range of resources available to support students and faculty interested in combining service with academic programs.
Grants
Funds are available for individual faculty and academic departments seeking to initiate or build upon existing service learning programs. Service Learning Course Development Mini-Grants support expenses associated with adding a service component to a new or existing academic course (e.g. student course assistant to coordinate service placements, modest faculty stipend, transportation, materials, etc.).
Information about Community-Based Organizations
The CSRC can provide information about specific agencies and non-profit community organizations in the MidCoast Region interested in partnerships with Bowdoin College. Faculty can also access our web-based database with agency missions, needs and contact information.
Information Technology Support
IT can help you in a variety of ways with any and all your technology needs. IT can:
  • help you and your students formulate and plan the technology use in your projects.
  • provide hands-on training for your students (both during or outside of class time) on software and hardware, including multimedia and productivity applications.
  • provide your students technical support for the duration of your project.
  • loan your students hardware such as cameras (video and still), laptops, external hard drives, ipods, etc.
  • provide graphic design assistance.

In the past, faculty and students have used or built the following technologies/tools/products: digital video; web sites; on-line surveys; Powerpoint slide shows; image editing; image galleries on the web; communication tools such as discussion boards, email lists (list serves), blogs; GIS mapping software; Statistics programs; and new technologies that we pioneer with you! Please contact Nancy Grant at ngrant@bowdoin.edu.

Print Resources
Books, journals, and articles on service learning, community-based research, civic engagement, and campus-community partnerships are available to borrow from the CSRC. In particular, the CSRC has an 18 volume series of books on service-learning in the disciplines (e.g. service learning in History, Biology, Engineering, etc.). The Bowdoin Library is also building a collection related to service learning and civic engagement.
Professional Development
The CSRC coordinates an annual seminar for faculty interested in learning more about service learning and campus-community partnership development.

For more information about these resources or opportunities, please contact Susie Dorn at sdorn@bowdoin.edu.