| Illinois State to be first to offer service learning major |
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| Written by Sarah McCullough, Daily Vidette Staff Writer |
| Wednesday, 01 July 2009 00:00 |
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Illinois State University, in conjunction with State Farm Companies Foundation, will be offering students a Service Learning minor. Illinois State will be the first public university of higher education to acknowledge service learning as a minor. With approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the University's Board of Trustees, the new minor should be available for registration starting the 2010-2011 school year. Students enrolled in the new 21 hour minor will be required to complete a class in Civic Responsibility which will be offered by shared faculty and staff across the academic board. Civic engagement and social leadership minors will be required to choose between three main emphases: social responsibility, social entrepreneurship and political engagement. The curriculum will allow for service learning to occur within normal coursework by aligning with State Farm's Semester of Service initiative. "Students should consider looking into the service learning minor because it would give them the opportunity to learn more about the community around them and would allow them to become an active member of that community," Stacy Buggar, Illinois State Education Alum an Daily Vidette Photo Editor d State Farm employee, said. "You get the community involvement experience which will carry onto many professions that you pursue. Most companies have some kind of community service program and it's nice to have that experience with getting involved early on," Jenna Davis, Illinois State Alum, said. According to State Farm Companies Foundation, service learning is a teaching method that combines service to the community with classroom curriculum. It is more than merely community service. It is a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility. "Civic Engagement is one of Illinois State's core values under the University's strategic plan, 'Educating Illinois,' and this new minor is another example of placing our values into action," Al Bowman, Illinois State University President, said in a press release. "It also represents another important partnership with State Farm, a company that has a long-standing commitment to global service learning programs," Bowman said. State Farm's support of service-learning is part of the company's long history of investment in communities and public education. "State Farm is proud to partner with Illinois State University because we feel that integrating service learning into the curriculum of teacher education, can change the future of education," Ed Rust, Jr., Chairman and CEO of State Farm, said in a press release. The State Farm Companies Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation that was established in 1963 and is funded by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.˜ State Farm Companies Foundation provides support for public education initiatives that are national in scope in the areas of systemic improvement, service learning and teacher excellence. |
