Abstract

The service-learning coordinator at Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, Virginia arranged with the host of HearSay, a high-quality daily call-in show that discusses issues of interest to the community, to bring a panel to discuss service-learning on the air. The goal was to share information, experiences and outcomes of the service-learning programs and curriculum offered at Tidewater, and to increase public awareness among potential community partners, faculty and students. The result was a popular feature on service-learning on the radio show. Cynthia Horen, Service-Learning Coordinator at Tidewater Community College, submitted this effective practice in October 2002.

Back to top

Issue

Lack of awareness about service-learning programs at a community college needs to be addressed with targeted exposure and education.

Back to top

Action

In an effort to increase public awareness about service-learning at Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, Virginia, the service-learning coordinator arranged with host Cathy Lewis of HearSay, a local high-quality daily call-in show, to bring a panel to talk about service-learning projects at the community college as an annual event. According to the service-learning coordinator, effective practices include:

• For each show, the panel from the community college consists of a community partner, a faculty member from Tidewater, and the service-learning coordinator from the college.
• The first show that was broadcast in 2002 included the Executive Director of Portsmouth Area Resources Coalition, Inc. and a psychology professor from Tidewater.
• Varied agency and faculty representatives appear on each show. Scheduled for May 2003 are the Executive Director of Community Health Centers and a professor of Nursing at Tidewater.
• At the beginning or end of each show there is a discussion of the increasing need for volunteers in national and community service.
• Some of the topics for discussion have been: educating the public about the concept of service-learning — including what differentiates it from extra-credit volunteering; service-learning specifically at Tidewater — range of disciplines, class structure, typical mandatory and optional assignments; how agencies become partners with Tidewater — how they get their needs met and how students participate, and other related issues.
• There is a call-in portion of the show when past, current, and prospective students and community members phone to ask questions and to offer their experiences and perspectives.
• The first show has been aired more than once when the subject matter seemed appropriate.

Back to top

Context

HearSay is a talk show that broadcasts discussions that focus on issues of interest to the community and is a National Public Radio affiliate at WHRV-FM (89.5). The show is broadcast over a metropolitan area of eight cities in southeast Virginia. HearSay won the "Best Radio Public Affairs Show in 2001" from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.

Tidewater Community College, founded in 1968, is one of 21 two-year colleges that make up the Virginia Community College System. The college has four campus locations, a visual arts center in Portsmouth, Virginia, and also offers classes at local military bases and area schools. In January of 1999, with the inauguration of a new president, the college launched a major planning initiative designed to position Tidewater Community College as a national model for community colleges in the next century. The Initiative framed the college's comprehensive mission to include a two-pronged "mission core" of college transfer and workplace development. Service-learning at Tidewater is seen as part of a "fundamental task to renew our role as agents of our democracy."

Back to top

Outcome

• At least one call during each show alerts listeners to a new need, potential partner, or additional service-learning activities in the region's schools.
• Greater awareness about service-learning brings willingness and legitimacy among potential community partners, interest among potential faculty and students, enthusiasm and validation among current practitioners, and goodwill from the community at large.

Back to top

Evidence

• Since the broadcast of the first show, people have called, e-mailed, and personally approached both the service-learning coordinator and educators to say they heard, enjoyed and benefited from the show.
• As of January 2003, the station is considering whether to broadcast the show quarterly instead of annually.

Back to top

Posted On

Back to top

For More Information

Back to top

Related Practices

• Talking about AmeriCorps

Back to top

Related sites

Learn and Serve America

HearSay with Cathy Lewis

• Login or register to post comments
• 
• Print-friendly page
• Send to friend