IU East students learn and serve in the community...
The value of combining
academic study with service
in the community is widely
acknowledged across the
country and in every discipline. The courses described below are just a few of the many opportunities students at IU East now have to enrich their classroom study with community-based learning and service.
IU East student Eric Angeles (standing, right) and instructor Peg Branstrator (far left), participated in the Science Career Opportunities Encouraged (SCOPE) program. The program gives minority and female middle-school students the chance to experience science and the possibility of future science careers.
Literature of aging
Laverne Nishihara, English, is teaching this course with a service learning component for the first time this semester. Students are reading works by and about older people from a variety of cultural and class backgrounds while working with the elderly population through the Area 9 In-Home and Community Service Agency. Students participate in programs at the nine senior centers in Richmond and outlying areas, and in the Meals on Wheels program. They also assist seniors with errands and other practical needs.
Mathematics for elementary teachers I
Kumara Jayasuriya, mathematics, first incorporated service learning into this course last spring. He paired IU East students with elementary school students in the Richmond area who needed help with their mathematics assignments. This enhanced their understanding of mathematical concepts while meeting the needs of local students.
Emotional and behavioral disorders of childhood and adolescence
Randall Osborne, psychology, introduced service learning to students in his class in order to help them understand the impact of these disorders on the lives of those affected. Students worked in groups with agencies that work with children and adolescents, including the Wayne County Mental Health Association and the Townsend Community Center. Each student volunteered 10 hours during the semester.
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