The History of the International Service Learning Program
According to Price Foster
(From my memory and files) 8/27/11
Introduction
The International Service Learning Program (ISLP) at the University of Louisville can be easily understood as having two distinct periods: The Developmental Period 1997-2007 and Maturation Period 2008 – Present or before Jackson and after Jackson.
The Developmental Period: 1997 – 2007
The University of Louisville began its service learning program experience in 1992 when students participated in an Alternative Spring Break project by traveling to Chicago, Illinois to work in a community food bank. This was followed by spring break projects in:
- Oneida, Tennessee - painted a school building
- Washington D.C. - worked at a homeless shelter
- St. Louis, Missouri – worked in a food bank and cleaned a family resource center
- Prestonsburg, Kentucky – painted a home and repaired trails in Jenny Wiley State Park
- Clearwater, Florida – worked with at-risk children in a youth foundation.
In 1996 Dr. Denise Gifford, University of Louisville Vice President for Student Affairs, decided to take the program to the international level. Drs. Price Foster, Justice Administration, and Bernard Strenecky, School of Education, were among those invited to participate.
Following a considerable period of planning, the decision was made for the initial delegation to involve 45 students, faculty and staff to travel to Barbados, West Indies during spring break 1997. This site was selected because Dr. Strenecky was the Honorary Consul to Kentucky and it was recognized early that having some political ties was an important ingredient for access and therefore, program success. Still called “Alternative Spring Break”, the program featured eight weeks of orientation sessions in which the history and culture of Barbados was discussed along with a healthy dose of fund-raising discussions. Indeed, during the early years of the program, raising funds was an obsession, occasionally downgraded to a preoccupation. Initially the cost for each participant was $2,000. Students and several faculty members without departmental support were personally responsible for making this contribution which covered all travel, food, and lodging expenses. Bake sales, car washes, and pancake breakfasts at the American Legion were commonplace. Soon after the program began, funds from a major fund-raising auction helped defray the expenses for those who contributed items for the sale.
Faculty and disciplines participating in the initial program included:
- Justice Administration – Dr. Price Foster
- Pan African Studies – Dr. Blaine Hudson
- Education – Dr. Bernard Strenecky
In 1998, the program moved to Belize, Central America, in large part because one of the student participants was Belizean and had taught school there. He also had some political relationships there which were very helpful.
The program moved back to Barbados in 1999. However, an election and change in the political climate resulted in this being the last trip there until many years later. In 2000 the ISLP began going exclusively to Belize because it was determined there was a greater need for our presence. We were very warmly received and appreciated. Since 2000, the ISLP has had a presence in Belmopan, Belize City, Gales Point, Dangriga, Independence, Red Bank, Georgetown and Punta Gorda.
During the developmental years, virtually every school and college in the University of Louisville participated at one time or another. However, the primary participants have also included:
- Communication
- Dentistry
- Nursing
- Engineering
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Health and Sports Sciences
- Civic Engagement, Leadership and Service
- Higher Education
The program grew from 45 participants to 90 in 2007. This number was well beyond the capacity for effective management with the available resources.
An Alumni Association was established along with a Board of Advisors, Chaired by Mr. Bob Quaife, a prominent Rotarian and frequent program participant. It had a broad ranging membership, representing faculty, community, students, alumni, and staff. This board had as its primary responsibilities; fund-raising and publicity. Meeting monthly, the board published its first newsletter in the spring of 2001.
Shortly after the arrival of Dr. Tom Jackson as Vice President for Student Affairs in 2007, a major assessment of the ISLP was conducted to consider the contributions and the future of the program. A task force was appointed, consisting of faculty and administrators who had been part of the first 10 years as well as others well respected in the community for their thoughtfulness and statesmanship. The task force was led by Dr. Tom Jackson and Dr. Blaine Hudson who had been recently appointed at Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and continued his academic appointment as a Professor in the Department of Pan African Studies. ILSP faculty members included Dr. Joy Hart, Dr. Kandi Walker and Dr. Tom Clark.
The Maturation Period 2008 – Present
The ISLP Assessment Task Force determined the program to be worthy of continuance. It had been successful in spite of minimal university financial support and it was consistent with the university priority for students to engage in international experiences. Several faculty were invited to continue including:
Dr. Price Foster – Justice Administration Dr. Margaret Pentecost – Education
Dr. Joy Hart – Communication Dr. Kandi Walker – Communication
Expansion of the program under Dr. Jackson’s leadership has resulted in the addition of more faculty including:
Dr. Beth Grossi – Justice Administration Dr. Barbara Burns – Psychology & Brain Sciences
Dr. David Jones – Dentistry Dr. Paul Boyd – Dentistry
Dr. Tim Daugherty – Dentistry Dr. Bill Sanders – Dentistry
Dr. Paula Collins – Dentistry Dr. Shannon Johnson – Dentistry
Dr. Michael Cuyjet – Education Dr. Dennis Menezes – Business
Dr. Philip Bressoud – Medicine Dr. Whitney Nash – Nursing
Ms. Diane Riff – Nursing Dr. Alexis Lyras – Sport Administration
Dr. Marion Hambrick – Sport Administration Ms. Pam Curtis –Civic Leadership
Dr. Michael Anthony – Civic Leadership Dr. Mark French – Engineering
Dr. Ellen Brehob – Engineering Dr. Russ Vandenbroucke – Theatre
Dr. Scott LaJoie – Public Health Dr. J.P. Mohsen – Engineering
Dr. Sherry Kennedy – Education Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley – Pan African Studies
Dr. Jackson appointed a Program Advisory Committee (PAG) consisting of Drs. Hart, Walker, Foster, Pentecost, Clark, Mardis and Ms. Cheryl Utz (Unit Business Manager). He had the wisdom to appoint Drs. Hart and Walker as faculty coordinators for the program. These two leaders, along with logistical support from Ms. Utz, Ms. Shirley Hardy, Ms. Laura Mercer, and Ms. Beverly Wolford have resulted in the very efficiently managed program characterized by excellent logistical support, imagination and a very high level of moral among all participants.
While the ISLP continues its presence in Belize (since 1997), the University, inspired by the current leadership of Dr. Jackson, along with Dr. Michael Mardis, Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student affairs, had made major resource investments in the ISLP.
Recognizing the programmatic and logistical challenges associated with very large groups, Dr. Jackson and the PAG made the conscience decision to limit each project to no more than 45 participants. Belize continues to be the largest with 45 while the other projects are capped at 32.
The Changing Concept of Service Learning
The field of service learning, like the program at the University of Louisville, has experienced considerable maturation over the past two decades. When the University of Louisville started its domestic as well as the international service learning program, the idea was to go to a location in need of some rehabilitation or work with people in need of help. Today, the concept is very different. It is conceived and implemented now as an interdisciplinary program that provides experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promoted student learning and development.
The Students
Since the inception of the ISLP, approximately 700 students have participated. At some point in the past 14 years, virtually every school and college in the University has had student participation. Academic credit has been earned by all students either as an elective in the discipline or as a guided professional experience.
As a direct result of participation in the ISLP, five students have received Rotary Ambassadorial scholarships valued at $250,000 and three more have been awarded Japanese Exchange Teaching scholarships valued at $200,000.
Students have gained employment with an international dimension as a result of ISLP. One student went to the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus, another to international development agency in Nepal/India, while others obtained teaching assignments in Korea and Indonesia. Also, some students have gone on to work with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’S) involved with international development within the United States.
Recognitions and Partnerships
Over the past two decades, service learning and international service learning in particular has become an increasingly important dimension of higher education in the United States. It has become a regular topic of discussion and presentation at academic and professional conferences. In 2004, the ISLP at the University of Louisville was designated at the best program in international education and learning by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
Also, in recognition of his contributions and leadership, Dr. Tom Jackson was elected and served as President of the ACPA College Student Educators International in 2009 – 2010. He is currently a candidate for selection as an Administrator in in India through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Over the years, the University, through the ISLP has hosted the Prime Minister of Belize and government officials from Barbados as well as educators and law enforcement officials from Central America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. In 2003 the University hosted the Under-Secretary General and Chairman of the international Civil Service Commission.
In addition, valuable partnerships have been established with such international organizations as the United Nations. One of the administrators of the ISLP served as a United Nations intern to promote his understanding of the role of education in international development. Partnerships have also been formed with CARICOM (Caribbean Community), The Organization of American States, and the governments of Belize, Guyana, Barbados, the Philippines, St. Vincent and Grenada.
A member of the ISLP faculty served as keynote speaker for an international conference on border disputes in the Caribbean and Central America and he served as key note speaker for a national conference on crime control in Belize.
We have worked with the University of Belize toward developing a degree program in criminal justice and a member of the University faculty donated over 1,000 textbooks to further that objective.