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NATIONAL EXPERT TO HELP LOUISIANA UNIVERSITIES ENGAGE STUDENTS IN SERVICE – May 23, 2006

A national expert, who has spent more than a decade engaging college students and faculty in volunteer work as part of their classroom work, will visit Çàɬֱ²¥ on June 2 to address the Çàɬֱ²¥ Campus Compact, representing 29 public and private institutions.

Dr. Catherine Foos, an expert in service learning curriculum development, will keynote a daylong meeting at the Claiborne Building in the Capitol Complex, 1201 N. Third St. in Baton Rouge. Dr. Foos, an associate professor at Indiana University East, has been combining service learning with classroom teaching since 1993.

“This meeting is the third in a series designed to help faculty members develop courses with service components,” said Çàɬֱ²¥ Campus Compact Director Dr. Valerie Fields.

The University of Çàɬֱ²¥ System will host the meeting of the Campus Compact, which promotes the education and commitment of Çàɬֱ²¥ faculty, staff and students to be civically engaged citizens through academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for volunteer service.

Dr. Sally Clausen, Çàɬֱ²¥System president, said the system’s eight universities have combined volunteer service with classroom learning for several years as an important component of student development. She said the campuses are developing more service learning opportunities and cited examples of volunteer projects with Habitat for Humanity.

“More than 120 of our students spent their Spring Break a few weeks ago building houses and sheds for hurricane victims in three South Çàɬֱ²¥ locations. That’s just one example of what our universities are doing to develop courses and programs that give students practical and meaningful experiences through volunteer service,” said Dr. Clausen.

Dr. Clausen also praised the work of 33 architecture students at Çàɬֱ²¥ Tech University who helped design and build a Habitat for Humanity home that was dedicated recently in Ruston.

“We toured the home in Ruston and talked with the family who will live there. It was obvious from the uplifting and positive reactions of everyone involved that those students were part of something profound and meaningful. That Habitat house became a home for a family, and that experience became a positive lifestyle for our students,” she said.

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More information at:

LOUISIANA CAMPUS COMPACT members:
Baton Rouge Community College, Bossier Parish Community College, Centenary College of Çàɬֱ²¥, Delgado Community College, Dillard University, Grambling State University, Çàɬֱ²¥ Delta Community College, Çàɬֱ²¥ State University at Alexandria, Çàɬֱ²¥ State University Health Sciences Center, Çàɬֱ²¥ State University at Shreveport, Çàɬֱ²¥ Technical College, Çàɬֱ²¥ Tech University, Loyola University New Orleans, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Nunez Community College, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Our Lady of the Lake College, River Parishes Community College, Southeastern Çàɬֱ²¥ University, Southern University at Baton Rouge, Southern University at New Orleans, Southern University at Shreveport, South Çàɬֱ²¥ Community College, Tulane University, University of Çàɬֱ²¥ at Lafayette, University of Çàɬֱ²¥ at Monroe, and Xavier University of Çàɬֱ²¥.
 
For More Information Contact:
Rusty Jabour
225-342-6950