FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Students at the University of Arkansas will have the opportunity to learn about literacy and enroll in a service-learning course on literacy tutoring beginning in fall 2009 when the university’s Brown Chair in English Literacy Initiative opens a new, multi-client literacy office at the Nonprofit Center for Northwest Arkansas at the former Mercy Hospital in Rogers.

The new literacy facility will offer reading and writing assistance to a wide variety of clients who will come to the Nonprofit Center for support services or who live or work near the center, according to David Jolliffe, professor of English and holder of the Brown Chair in English Literacy, and Betsy Reithemeyer, executive director of the Nonprofit Center.

“Among the initial occupants of the center will be the Benton County Women’s Shelter. Across the street is a large church with a substantial after-school program. Down the street are the Benton County Senior Center and the Boys and Girls Club,” Jolliffe said. “We hope to be able to offer fun and useful reading and writing projects of all kinds to meet the needs and desires of these different populations.”

“We’re delighted to enter into a partnership with the Brown Chair in English Literacy Initiative,” said Reithemeyer. “University students can learn a great deal about the northwest Arkansas community and be of great service to its citizens.”

Students who would like to work with the new literacy initiative can enroll in English 2173, a service-learning course titled “Literacy in America,” that will meet from 2:30 to 3:50 on Mondays and Wednesdays in the fall 2009 semester. If interested, contact Jolliffe at 479-575-2289 or djollif@uark.edu.