Monday, September 26, 2011

Mansfield Institutes Welcomes our New Fellow from AmeriCorps VISTA – ILCC

My name is Nikita Stange and I am an AmeriCorps VISTA – ILCC with the Mansfield Institute for Social Justice and Transformation.  I am the community outreach and special projects coordinator here.

My undergraduate degree is in Sociology with a concentration in Health, Human Service, and Social Justice.  My primary focus up until this point academically has been on racial studies and education and I am excited to continue learning about these issues while working with the Mansfield Institute.  I believe that there are significant changes that need to be made in our education and penal systems so that individuals, young and old, can become productive members of society.

I am confident that Transformational Learning is one way that we can work together to create meaningful social change.   As a former Roosevelt student and a recent grad, I hope that I can be a useful resource for TL faculty and students.  Currently I am working with SOC 325/425 (a TL course) where students are going to Morrill Elementary to work with students and teachers to bring a Restorative Justice model to the school.  My role has been to support the professor and the students so that they can be successful at Morrill.  My hope is to do the same for our current TL faculty as well as those faculty considering this pedagogy.  Please consider me as a resource for TL course related work that may include helping to set up your community partnership, promoting your TL course, or helping you structure/organize your TL course projects.  I am located in AUD 670 and can be reached at nstange@roosevelt.edu

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Grants for Teaching Assistants for Transformational Learning Classes

Are you thinking about using transformational service-learning in your class for Spring semester, but feel that you would need some extra help in incorporating it into your class?

The Mansfield Institute is happy to announce that we are able to provide faculty members with teaching assistants to give added support!  Full-time and part-time faculty from across Roosevelt University are invited to submit proposals to hire an undergraduate or graduate student who would be able to provide 8 hours of support each week during the semester.  Students receive a $2,000 scholarship to be applied toward their Spring 2012 tuition as compensation for their work.

Specifically, teaching assistants can help faculty members with the transformational service-learning component of their class by working with the Mansfield Institute to help students find community placements, coordinating with community partners, assisting with off-site travel of visits of community partners to campus, and evaluating students' service-learning assignments with appropriate guidance and supervision.

Click here to learn more and to download the brief application!  Applications are due no later than November 1, 2011.  Contact Steve Meyers at smeyers@roosevelt.edu with any questions or for any assistance that you may need.