IV. Undergraduate Research via Service Learning and Outreach

Recent national trends to incorporate service learning in academic programs demonstrate the growing commitment to the scholarship of engagement by universities. This chapter features papers that address both the student rewards of being involved in meaningful research that touches the community and the challenges associated with developing and maintaining these unique projects. Carubia et al. describe a model of student research that integrates service leadership vertically within a university education, thus allowing students to develop their vision for addressing a local or global community issue. Vender chronicles a rigorous service learning experience by peppering student reflections throughout her description of the three-part model. Dupont-Morales summarizes the issue reaction of the conference discussants that grappled with defining and creating service learning opportunities. Mueller presents an issue reaction on social inquiry and the challenges that instructors face when having students confront communal issues. The paper provides some valuable suggestions to address those research challenges. Finally, Brown and Brown describe an honors symposium and their efforts to instill and develop student leadership qualities in the context of engaging students in research projects that address a community need