Mission, Goal, and Roles

Mission, Goal, and Roles

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Service Learning Academy (SLA) is to facilitate inter-professional and interdisciplinary public health learning experiences in local, regional, national and international communities.  Activities developed through the Academy strive to address community-identified priorities, advance community health, enhance learning, and foster civic engagement among community members, students, staff and faculty.

GOALS OF THE SLA

• Increase Awareness for service learning among UNMC's students, faculty and staff, including the development and dissemination of a uniform service learning definition, used consistently to operationalize aspects of service learning.
• Increase Leadership Capacity and Expertise in service learning among students, faculty, community partners, and institutional leaders, by providing organized, relevant, timely education, training, and curricula development.
• Engage new and foster existing Partnerships with community-based organizations based on mutual trust, respect, cultural awareness, and good communication.
• Develop community-engaged Scholarships that will benefit the institution, faculty, students, and community.
• Develop capacity for implementation and Sustainability of service learning activities, and provide expert support and technical assistance needed to implement various service learning activities. 

ROLES OF THE SLA

The Service Learning Academy is the clearinghouse for Service-Learning resources at the UNMC, advocating for a greater integration of meaningful service to the community into course curricula as a key component of an innovative and civically engaged education. The SLA staff works to support Service-Learning across all academic departments by providing resources, support, and information to faculty, students, administrators and community partners.

The SLA is developing the infrastructure needed to facilitate sustainable Service-Learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate public health students and other students in the health professions at UNMC.