SPEA creates service corps

A newly established community service program is allowing graduate students in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs to demonstrate their classroom knowledge in the Bloomington community.\nIn conjunction with the United Way, SPEA launched the Student Service Corps this fall. The two-yearlong program assigns 10 graduate students to work at one of five local United Way agencies -- Amethyst House, Shelter, Inc., Middle Way House, Hoosier Hills Food Bank and the Area 10 Agency on Aging.\nService Corps Director Karen Danielson said SPEA hand-picked the participating students from those who are enrolled in the department's not-for-profit concentration.\n"We're looking for people with experience," Danielson said. "So the students placed (in the agencies) can hit the ground running and contribute to that agency and ultimately to our community right away."\nEach week the students spend 10 hours working at their assigned United Way agency where they assist in administrative duties such as fund development, direct service and needs assessment. Corps members are also required to meet with one another twice each month to discuss and share their experiences in the service program. \nCarla Seeger, SPEA graduate student and Community Coordinator, said the experience the students gain from the Service Corps will enhance their knowledge and skill in the non-profit environment, which could prove beneficial to their careers after graduation.\n"Since most of our students are non-profit concentrators, they're gaining valuable knowledge by working at the agencies that will help them later on," Seeger said.\nIn establishing the Student Service Corps, Danielson said SPEA wanted to be innovative from other universities' community service programs.\nThe program's unusually long length of two years will give the students the potential to assume greater responsibilities within their agency, therefore allowing them to become more involved and leave a more lasting impression on the community.\n"As the students begin to take on additional responsibility, they will become much more aware of the overall community and of the synergy that can happen between agencies," Danielson said.\nDanielson and Seeger agree that the Service Corps has already made significant progress after just one semester. \nKerry Crowley is a Service Corps participant at the Amethyst House. \n"I've really enjoyed the work. It's been a great way for us to get involved in Bloomington and give something back to the community," she said. "Plus, I think (the students) get back just as much satisfaction from helping with the clients."\nLinda Calloway, clinical director at the Amethyst House, has also been overwhelmed with the students' abilities. \n"I'm very impressed with their ability to problem solve on their own, and they look at the global picture at work rather than just the clinical aspect," Calloway said.\nWith the early success of the Student Service Corps, expansion plans for next year should come easily. Seeger said that in addition to doubling the amount of students in the program, SPEA hopes to expand the number of participating non-profit agencies. \n"We've already had non-participating agencies contact us, requesting to be included in the program next year," Seeger said.