Incorporating service learning into your course can elevate student learning while making an impact in the community. See some ideas below to either directly use in your course or help generate new ideas.
Bringing Service-Learning to the College of Arts and Sciences:
Summer 2022
We have gathered ideas on service-learning projects from our partners in the community, and we are bringing them to the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences for their consideration.
Below you will find descriptions for potential service-learning projects, each including information about (1) the community partner, (2) what the student project entails, and (3) the CAS departments or programs that we think will have a course that could be a good match for the project.
We ask that you take a look at these projects and think about giving them a home in your Summer 2022 classes. Several of these projects will be completed outside, so students can enjoy the sunshine!
If there is a project that you would like to explore further, please reach out to me. Also, if none of these projects are a good fit for your classes, let me know! We have many other projects besides the ones listed below.
Cecilia Tocaimaza-Hatch
ctocaimazahatch@unomaha.edu
Service Learning Academy Faculty Fellow for CAS
Potential Service Learning Projects:
New Visions Homeless Services
UNO students would work in the community garden or kitchen.
Possible disciplines: Biology, Exploratory Studies, Foreign Languages, Interdisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, Sociology/Anthropology, Religious Studies
Omaha Municipal Land Bank
Students would conduct land surveys for replotting OMLB lots (to be stamped by a private partner — OMLB has a partner willing to do this and help students).
Possible disciplines: Exploratory Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Geography, Mathematics
City of Omaha Neighborhood Planning
Project 1: Solutions to Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping has been an issue for many Omaha neighborhoods, especially on vacant land and in areas with unmonitored dumpsters. Students would conduct research, possibly study best practices from other cities or any other innovative solutions to deter illegal dumping. Students could focus on a particular location to study.
Possible disciplines: Biology, Black Studies, Chemistry, Critical and Creative Thinking, Environmental Studies, Exploratory Studies, Geography, Geology, OLLAS, Medical Humanities
Project 2: A Study on Gentrification
“Gentrification” is a term people use to broadly describe abruptly changing housing markets and neighborhoods that may follow new neighborhood development and investment. Gentrification can lead to displacement of current, often poorer, residents. For this project, students would research gentrification and answer the following questions: Is gentrification always bad? Are there instances where current residents benefit from gentrification? What are some solutions that mitigate the negative effects of gentrification and what are some recommendations for Omaha?
Possible disciplines: Black Studies, Foreign Languages, Geography, International Studies, Native American Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology/Anthropology
Children's Respite Care Center (CRCC)
UNO students and CRCC clients work together to learn more about life skills, e.g., cooking or interpersonal relationships.
Possible Disciplines: Exploratory Studies, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies
Keep Omaha Beautiful: Only Rain Down the Storm Drain
Stormwater pollution is the number one cause of water pollution in Nebraska; it’s caused when pollution from the city washes into the storm drains which lead directly to our waterways without filtration. For this project, students receive a map of storm drains in a neighborhood, clean debris from the drains, and label them with a “no dumping” decal. They also pass out educational door hangers to surrounding neighbors letting them know how to prevent pollution.
Possible disciplines: Biology, Environmental Studies, Foreign Languages, Geography, Geology
League of Women Voters
Students would research and present issues to our Running and Winning Committee. One issue would be chosen for high school students to discuss and then advocate for or against in a mock campaign; then, they attend Running and Winning and assist the students in their campaigns.
Possible Disciplines: Black Studies, English, Native American Studies, History, Religious Studies, Political Science, Sociology/Anthropology, Women’s and Gender Studies
NE Urban Indian Health Coalition, Inc.
Students would develop a collaboration map. The map would enable viewers to see where partners are located geographically, describe relationship and provide contact information.
Possible disciplines: Exploratory Studies, Geography, Medical Humanities, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies
Teammates Mentoring
Students assist with promotional materials for the mentoring program that serves thousands of children across the Midwest.
Possible disciplines: English, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology