Colleges and Universities Come Together at UA for Statewide Conference on Service Learning and Poverty

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility at The University of Alabama, the Alabama Poverty Project, Impact Alabama: A Student Service Initiative, and the UAB Center for Urban Affairs are presenting “To Whom Much Is Given,” a statewide conference on service learning in higher education, Thursday and Friday, Sept. 27-28, at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa.

The conference, “To Whom Much Is Given: Defining higher education’s obligation toward communities of need in Alabama and developing solutions to poverty through service learning and community engagement,” is the first of its kind in the state.

Faculty from more than 20 colleges and universities across Alabama are enrolled in the conference. This conference will bring together professors, administrators, students and community partners from campuses and organizations across the state to establish a network of best practices in facing issues of poverty in Alabama.

“As a college education becomes more critical in equipping our citizens for an increasingly competitive world economy, we must not forget the role our system of higher education can and should play in preparing students to serve as effective, engaged and ethical citizens,” said Stephen Foster Black, director of the UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility.

Goals of the conference include:

-Examining service learning through the unique lens of poverty and building a commitment to institutionalizing the sustained practice of quality service learning opportunities that address vital community needs throughout our state.

-Developing a network of colleagues across the state to share ideas and innovations in community engagement, as well as exploring challenges related to the successful development and implementation of service learning.

The conference begins Thursday night with a special dinner program highlighting service learning courses and campus initiatives in which students learn to portray the personal stories of people living in communities of need. Events on Friday include two keynote addresses from nationally renowned service learning scholars and four breakout session blocks featuring 20 workshop and panel discussions on a diversity topics related to service learning and poverty. The conference will also offer specialized tracks for students and for representatives from community agencies and is suitable for a variety of experience levels and personal interests.

A complete schedule of events, registration and accommodation details, and other important information is available on the conference Web site at http://cesr.ua.edu/programsandactivities/servicelearning/conference.html.

Contact Black at 205/936-9963 or Stephen.black@ua.edu for more information.