This syllabus is subject to change without notice. Contact the professor for most recent changes.

Community Leadership and Service Learning - URSI 230-S02

MN State University, Mankato - Urban and Regional Studies Institute

Monday 11:00 am--1:45 pm  

Room ML 111

 

Instructor:     Dr. J.E. Cherrington (Dr. J)                    Phone/Voice Mail: 507-389-5031

Office:  Morris Hall - 106B  Office Hours:  See *;  also by appointment

*Instructor’s web page (www.intech.mnsu.edu/cherrington)

 

Text(s) Government is Us, Cheryl Simmell King and Camilla Stivers  ISBN 0-7619-0882-X

            The Community of the Future, the Drucker Foundation  ISBN 0-7879-5294-4

 

Course Purpose:  The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a comprehensive overview of community leadership and service learning within the public, private and nonprofit sectors.  Included will be management principles and practices, public administration, ethical and civic responsibilities in a democratic society.  Most important, and what makes this course unique, is the involvement of community leaders and the students within the community.  There will be a wide variety of guest (community leader) speakers.  Additionally, this course requires a high level of student involvement--volunteering, attending meetings, interviewing, working with both student and community teams, etc.

 

Course Outcomes:  Students upon successful completion of this course, will demonstrate through verbal and written skills:

A. Knowledge of:

1.      leadership within the nonprofit sector is.

2.      the significance and development of mission, leadership, resources, marketing, decision-making and people development within the nonprofit sector.

3.      leadership within the government sector (leadership, tasks, responsibilities and practices).

4.      citizenship and representative government as well as the activities of collaboration, citizen participation and citizen self-government.

5.      one or more community non-profit organizations through service learning and student volunteer teams.

B. Values:

1.       An appreciation for ethical and civic perspectives of the non-profit sector mission and                           leaders within it.

2.      A respect for citizenship, the role of representative government, and the importance of                           collaboration b/t the two.

3.      A commitment to the values, ethics, knowledge, and mission of community leadership.

C. Skills in:

1.      Articulating the goals of the nonprofit sector with those of the public and private sectors.

2.      Articulating the goals of the government sector with those of the nonprofit and private sectors

3.      Applying personal talents and energies in the service-learning model of community leadership.

4.      Applying creative problem solving and critical thinking in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

5.      Effective communication—oral and written.

6.      Researching and writing about service learning experiences at the community level.

7.      Working and interacting with others in a team approach.

8.      Using volunteerism as a means for social change.