Editor’s Note: See related articles on pages 8–9.
By Jane R. Elgass
A nine-member task force has been appointed to create, within the next six to eight months, an action proposal related to community service learning.
Appointed by Walter Harrison, executive director of University relations, and Maureen A. Hartford, vice president for student affairs, the group has been asked to review the University’s current community service activities, propose new directions and initiatives for these activities, and consider positioning the University as a leader in community service in conjunction with President Bill Clinton’s proposed initiatives in this area.
The faculty, staff and students on the committee are praised by Harrison and task force chair Barry N. Checkoway as talented and experienced individuals.”
“We really have a terrific group of people who represent various spheres of the University,” says Checkoway, who is professor of social work and of urban, technological and environmental planning. “All are very experienced, students or faculty who have been involved in community service, staff who have managed programs that help the University serve the community.”
Checkoway notes that this is “a very auspicious time for a task force like this; it’s more important than ever.
“The University already has an excellent reputation for the quality of its programs,” Checkoway notes. “President Clinton stood on the steps of Rackham and talked about service programs. We won’t necessarily be proposing programs with a direct connection to his, but community service/learning activities are becoming more and more important elements of students’ educational experiences.”
He says that the appointment to the task force of Thomas A. Butts, associate vice president for government relations and director of the U-M’s office in Washington, D.C., will enable the group to stay in close touch with federal legislative and administration initiatives.
“Through the task force we have an exciting opportunity to pull together practitioners and faculty members to help us enhance current programs and look toward responding to President Clinton’s call for programs on national service,” says Maureen M. Hartford, vice president for student affairs. She notes that the March 10 Federal Register contains a call for proposals and that the University likely will submit one.
Other members of the task force are:
Jennifer L. Bastress, senior, School of Nursing; Anita M. Bohn, student services associate, Office of Student Affairs; Mark Chesler, professor of sociology; Frank J. Cianciola, associate dean of students/activities and programs; Jeffrey P.F. Howard, student services associate, Office of Student Affairs; Carolyn R. Stone, Rackham graduate student; and Sharon Sutton, associate professor of architecture.
