In 2000 the College created the position of Coordinator of Volunteer Services (CVS) and hired Ms. Lynne Wheatley to administer programs providing service opportunities for all members of the campus community. Under the leadership of Ms. Wheatley, the Volunteer Services Office fostered campus involvement in service through MeredithREADs, a literacy project in partnership with Motheread and Wake County public schools, among other collaborations and sponsored events. In addition, students were provided leadership roles on the newly formed Service Council, which provides direction and assistance to the CVS in planning and promoting service projects and events.

In 2001, with funding support from Dr. Rosalind Reichard, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Meredith College initiated faculty and curriculum development utilizing the pedagogy of service-learning. Using a model of service-learning and reflection developed by Dr. Patti Clayton at North Carolina State University, students developed skills in leading reflection discussions. A core team of eleven faculty and staff members underwent intense service-learning faculty development during the spring of 2002. As a result, ten service-learning intensive (SLs) courses were created, each utilizing trained student Reflection Leaders. The success of incorporating student-led reflection sessions is attributed, in great measure, to Meghan Griffith, a Meredith student who spearheaded its inclusion and tailored the handbook and training specifically to Meredith College.

Momentum continued in fall 2002 as Meredith College affirmed its commitment to civic engagement by becoming a charter member of the North Carolina Campus Compact (NCCC). North Carolina Campus Compact is a statewide coalition of college and university presidents “established to increase campus-wide participation in community and public service and to integrate service as a valued educational component of higher education.” Membership within NCCC not only augments the College’s desire to enhance its students’ citizenry beyond the four years of college education, it serves as a valuable resource to enrich Meredith’s service-learning program.

The year of 2003-04 promises to be exciting for service-learning due to a reformed general education curriculum that has an increased emphasis in civic engagement and a specific requirement of experiential learning—an option of which is service learning. In addition, we celebrate the arrival of an Americorps*VISTA, Ms. Winter Brown, who role it is to support further development of service learning and to coordinate such effort with volunteer opportunities. The VISTA worker, obtained through NCCC, is the first staff member fully dedicated to the development of a service-learning program infrastructure. It is anticipated that this program will be realization of several years of dedicated hard work by Meredith faculty, staff and students and will serve as a vital tool in shaping civic and ethical leadership in Meredith students.

Chronology of the development of Service-Learning at Meredith College

July 1, 1999 Dr. Maureen Hartford assumes duties as President of Meredith College

March 2000 Ms. Lynne Wheatley, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, is hired and the office of Volunteer Services is created

2000-02 Review of Meredith’s general education curriculum leads to faculty interest in service learning. Research is conducted and, eventually, service learning takes a place in the reformed curriculum through adaptation into CORE 100 course and as a possibility in the Experiential Learning requirement.

August 2001 Dr. Patty Clayton, North Carolina State University, presents a workshop on Service Learning to the Meredith College faculty as part of the Faculty-Staff Planning Conference

October 2001 Conversation w/ Colleagues session on Service Learning – 30 attendees

January 2002 Dr. Patty Clayton, accompanied by students from NCSU, conduct a full-day training session for seven students, ten faculty, and one staff person on service learning and the Articulated Learning framework for reflection discussion.

Spring 2002 Core group of eleven faculty/staff members engage in five-week service-learning faculty development program. Ten courses are modified to include service-learning with student reflection leaders.

Fall 2002 Meredith College becomes a charter member of North Carolina Campus Compact. Seven “SL-enhanced” courses offered and designated as such in course schedule booklet.
Spring 2003 Five “SL-enhanced” courses offered. Additional students trained as Reflection Leaders.

Fall 2003 Reformed General Education curriculum is implemented with reflection discussion model included in CORE 1000 course and service-learning as one option for Experiential Learning requirement Six “SL-enhanced” courses offered. 24 students trained as Reflection Leaders.

Ms. Winter Brown, AmericorpsVISTA with North Carolina Campus Compact, arrives on campus and is the first staff member fully dedicated to the development of a service-learning program infrastructure.

Faculty Trained in Service-Learning
Cynthia Bishop
Carol Brown
Lori Brown
Christa Devitt
Carol Hayes
Paula Januzzi
John Mecham
Allen McAlexander
Janet Nelson
Patsy Pierce
Janice Swab
Lynne Wheatley

Courses Modified to Utilize Service-Learning – as of Fall, 2003
CHE 436A Biochemistry
CD 340A Young Children’s Learning Environment
CD 438A Supporting and Strengthening Families
HED 200B First Aid
REL 345 Environmental Ethics
SOC 335A Race and Ethnic Relations
SWK 241A Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare
SWK 305A Generalist Practice with Families
SWK 944 Exploring Ethics
THE 247A Costume and Make-Up