U of A Represents at Gulf-South Summit in Nashville

Champions of service learning from the University of Arkansas recently attended and presented at the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education, a prominent conference that fosters collaboration in the field of service learning. Held this year in Nashville, Tennessee, the three-day conference was hosted by Belmont University, Vanderbilt University and Lipscomb University. It featured a dynamic mix of powerful keynote speakers and networking opportunities, complemented by focused sessions. These sessions allowed attendees to engage with students, faculty, staff and community partners involved in experiential learning activities. The U of A is one of the many prestigious institutions across 12 states that are part of this organization.  

The volunteer and service contribution platform GivePulse was also a proud sponsor of the conference. "GivePulse allows students at the University of Arkansas to track their service hours for their service learning courses, as well as other volunteer opportunities," says Service Learning Coordinator Noelle Kingsbauer, who attended the conference. "Hearing from a GivePulse representative about additional ways we can use that data was one of the most helpful sessions I attended as a staff member." Graduating students who have logged over 100 hours of service on GivePulse are eligible for a special graduate cord to commemorate their exemplary service by completing this form.  

During the event, Jennie Popp, associate dean of the U of A Honors College and professor of agricultural economics, led a session titled Developing Collaborative and Impactful Service-Learning Projects Across Colleges and Universities Within a State. In this presentation, Popp provided an engaging, step-by-step guide for educators interested in creating multi-institutional collaborations that address pressing community needs through service learning and project-based classes. Popp, a former co-chair of the Service Learning Initiative at the U of A, has been instrumental in creating collaborative opportunities for faculty and community partners. 

Louise Hancox, director of the Honors College Futures Hub at the U of A, also presented at the summit with a session titled Arkansas Voting Rights: State-Wide Collaborative Service Learning. This presentation focused on the unique service-learning class dedicated to voting rights in Arkansas. Hancox led a discussion on the structure of the course, the process for selecting guest speakers and the method of course delivery. The session highlighted a thematic focus on dissonance and resilience, emphasizing close listening and unexpected collaborations—insights that educated attendees from across the country on this innovative course. 

Laura Gray, teaching assistant professor at the U of A and recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to Service Learning Teaching Award, also contributed a session, titled Deepening Engagement in a Bare-Minimum World. Gray examined the emerging national trend in student attitudes toward education, drawing from current research and her own experiences working with community partners. Her presentation addressed the challenges and opportunities that arise in a general-studies context. Gray also serves as the Gulf-South Summit Executive Committee representative for the U of A's Service Learning Initiative Committee. 

The Service Learning Initiative offers various grants for faculty, and students are also eligible for travel funds to participate in service-learning based research activities or to present on service-learning-related topics. Next year's Gulf-South Summit is planned to be hosted by the University of Houston-Downtown. For information on attending, contact Laura Gray: lgray@uark.edu.