Campus FWS Models
This section includes articles with models of community service FWS programs from colleges and universities across the United States. These models range from implementing programs at different institutional types to using FWS as a leadership development strategy to creating programs and tools that address specific community needs. Summaries of these models appear below; click on each title to see the full text of the article.
GENERAL COMMUNITY SERVICE FWS PROGRAM MODELS
Retention and Collaboration: IUPUI’s Office of Community Work-Study
In 2004, the Office of Community Work-Study was created within IUPUI’s Center for Service and Learning to provide an institutional framework for increasing the number of community service FWS positions. A committee was assembled from campus offices across the university to develop the plan for expansion. Hallmarks of the program include FWS students serving in teams and a focus on using community service FWS to increase student retention. More…
Faith-based Service: FWS at Azusa Pacific University
The Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research at Azusa Pacific University employs FWS students as tutors and service-learning program coordinators. The Center makes every effort to place students in positions that correlate with their academic field of study. A significant factor motivating the administration to support community-based FWS positions is the historical commitment of Azusa Pacific, an evangelical Christian institution, to provide opportunities for students to “live a life of service to others.” More…
Financial Aid Professionals at the Center: Colorado College’s FWS Progam
As an undergraduate institution, Colorado College is proud to claim that at least 80% of its students are engaged in some form of community service, including many through Federal Work-Study. The community service FWS program is coordinated fully by the Financial Aid Office as an integral part of the Student Employment program. Additional highlights of the program include that the college pays 100% of the employer match for the program, and FWS students may also earn an AmeriCorps Education Award. More…
Service in a Rural Setting: Meaningful Programs at Kirtland Community College District
How can rural colleges and universities overcome obstacles such as isolation, lack of resources, and students’ limited time, and still provide meaningful community service Federal Work-Study opportunities? The Kirtland Community College district covers four counties and the closest town is seven miles away. Almost entirely a commuter campus, the college has many students who drive 50-75 miles each way. Kirtland’s program model offers strategies for overcoming challenges typically faced by rural campuses. More…
“We Can Do More!”: Campus-Community Collaboration at the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida’s commitment to increase participation in community service FWS spurred the creation of a Community Service FWS Reading Tutor Workgroup, composed of community organizations and university departments. USF also partners with the Hillsborough Education Foundation to offer AmeriCorps Education Awards to its FWS reading tutors. Each year, the America Reads program increases in the number of tutors placed and the number of schools that participate. In 2005-06, 58 USF students provided 16,000 hours of service to 300 children. After being tutored, 82% of second and third grade students were reading on grade level or higher. More…
Program Development through Evaluation: Family Literacy at Simmons College
The Scott/Ross Center for Community Service at Simmons College typically employs 150 to 160 students per semester in community service Federal Work-Study programs, representing 33% of the institution’s FWS spending. Programs focus on family literacy, with an emphasis not only on helping children acquire literacy skills but also on creating opportunities to engage families in the process. In the past year, program leaders focused on improving the program in three areas: student development (including a review of four student development frameworks), student evaluation, and community partner evaluation. More…
From Dysfunction to Coordination: America Reads at the University of Minnesota
The America Reads Program at the University of Minnesota went through many changes in its first several years. This article describes the process of moving from a decentralized effort to a much more effective and coordinated one at a large institution of 28,000 students. “Lessons learned” are also included. More…
Nurturing the Whole Student: Service-based Programs at Pfeiffer University
The Francis Center for Servant Leadership at Pfeiffer University coordinates all AmeriCorps and community service FWS programs. AmeriCorps programs were created on Pfeiffer’s campus to provide students with opportunities to serve others while earning funds to further their education. Students who participate in the AmeriCorps program and who are qualified for FWS are encouraged to combine their efforts and focus on community service job placements. Students may use the same service hours to qualify for their AmeriCorps education award and their FWS award. Students who participate in community service FWS can also combine their work-study experience with a departmental internship. More…
Creative Solutions: Summer Work-Study and Professional Placements at the University of Montana
Approximately 1,000 students at the University of Montana work as FWS employees annually, and about one quarter of those work in community service positions. The program is managed by the university’s Financial Aid Office. A full-time Summer Work-Study program is popular among graduate and law students, and allows students from areas outside of Missoula to set up service opportunities in their home towns. More…
Testing Tutor Training Effectiveness: Service-Learning at Fresno State
In 2001, Jumpstart at Fresno State began a model for tutor training and development by means of a service-learning course. Since 2001, five Jumpstart sites have replicated this model. A study performed as part of a dissertation validated the findings that both service-learning and non’“service-learning participants benefit from participation in service. In many outcome areas, however, service-learning students made statistically greater gains than non’“service-learning students. Areas where service-learning students saw greater gains included change of major, knowledge of early childhood practices, leadership skills, awareness of issues facing their community, and confidence levels in speaking to groups. More…
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MODELS
The Student Ambassador Leadership Model: FWS and Service-Learning at Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the largest institution of higher education in the United States, with more than 160,000 students taking classes at the college annually. In order to manage a large service-learning program at a large institution, MDC created a Student Ambassador program that includes 15-20 Federal Work-Study students. The Ambassadors support faculty who integrate service-learning into academic courses by communicating with other students and community partners. This article share steps to use in establishing a similar program. More…
Creating Public Service Leaders: Student-Led Work at Harvard College
The Stride Rite Community Service Program based at the Phillips Brooks House Association at Harvard College encourages the professional and personal development of future public service leaders. Between 35 and 40 “scholarships” (FWS awards plus additional stipends) are awarded each year to support students in a year-round commitment to service from June to May. The ideal program experience is one that provides the Harvard student with a quality service placement, an in-depth, continuous service experience, and mentoring and leadership development. The program has benchmarks in each of these areas to gauge its success. More…
“I Found Out What I Want to Do”: FWS and Workforce Development at Central Piedmont Community College
Central Piedmont Community College is working to become a national leader in workforce development. CPCC’s service-learning program, including Federal Work-Study, supports this vision. If students are strategically selected and placed at a work site that is relevant to their career objectives, the experience solidifies students’ educational and career goals. CPCC uses program management strategies such as intentional student recruitment, hiring, orientation, training, and ongoing support to achieve their goals. More…
Take the Lead: A Transformative Leadership Series at Oberlin College
Oberlin designated 23% of its FWS funds to community service in 2004-05, engaging 175 undergraduates in service with 23 non-profits. “Take the Lead: A Transformative Leadership Series” is a series of monthly trainings for students to learn how to be more effective leaders. The series is offered jointly for all students who are working or serving in the community, including community service FWS students, leaders in student organizations, Bonner Scholars, athletes, mentors, and AmeriCorps students. More…
Beginning Leadership: FWS and Student Leaders at Linn-Benton Community College
Linn-Benton Community College’s Department of Student Life and Leadership includes several student organizations that offer students a year-long student leadership program. One of these, the Student Ambassadors, are primarily Federal Work-Study students. Ambassadors participate in a service-learning student leadership program in addition to receiving job-specific training. This includes participating in a one-credit class titled EDU 207: Beginning Leadership.The class was designed for student leaders and focuses on critical reflective thinking and personal and civic responsibility. More…
