New feature: Spotlight on Service

Did you know that some 4,000 Fresno State students volunteer more than 190,000 hours a year in community service and service-learning projects?

Or that their volunteer hours have an economic impact of more than $3.2 million dollars in our Valley?

The outstanding community service of Fresno State students - as well as faculty and staff - often goes unnoticed. Beginning this month, a new feature in University Journal, "Spotlight on Service," will highlight the good works of the campus community.

Members of the university's Community Service-Learning Advisory Council, conceived the idea of the feature, notes Chris Fiorentino , director of Students for Community Service.

"As an institution of higher education, we have a responsibility toward our community to educate our students and be involved in a direct way with the community around us," he said. "We should recognize and promote the kinds of outstanding community-based learning activities that our students, faculty and staff are involved in. Often times, the university community doesn't know about those activities."

Fiorentino said that in addition to the 4,000 students that he tracks who volunteer through classes, scholarship programs and projects, there are many others who provide thousands of hours individually and through their student clubs and organizations.

"Community service learning is a growing trend at campuses across the nation. Most campuses have service learning courses or projects. The CSU is way ahead of the curve and our campus is on the leading edge of that curve," Fiorentino said.

Research shows that anyone who volunteers has a more positive outlook on life and is healthier, both mentally and physically.   Students who serve recognize greater personal, professional and academic benefits when compared to non-serving peers.

Faculty and staff members are encouraged to submit information (up to 150 words) about community service-learning projects in which they and their students are involved. Include name, major (if student), department (if faculty or staff member), what the service involves, where and what the impact to the community is. Digital photographs are welcome.  

Send information to journal@csufresno.edu .

Here are the first volunteers in our spotlight:

Department of Marketing and E-Business, Craig School of Business

Under the guidance of Dr. Charles "Skip" Sherwood, the Marketing and E-Business Department has been a leader in integrating service-learning into business disciplines.  

Approximately seven faculty members in the department teach Marketing 100S, a service-learning course where students apply marketing strategies to the needs of area nonprofits. More than 450 students enroll in this course each year, providing in excess of 6,800 hours of service.

Noteworthy projects have included marketing for the Central California Blood Center and the Leukemia Society's "Light the Night" program.   Both of these organizations have realized exceptional increases in the programs promoted by Marketing 100S students.   In addition to Marketing 100S, Dr. Sherwood also supervises numerous Marketing 189T students each semester who conduct independent study projects in nonprofit marketing.  

The application of marketing principles through service-learning projects has provided meaningful service to the nonprofit community and outstanding learning experiences for students.

Smittcamp Family Honors students

While they are often recognized as some of the most academically gifted students at Fresno State , the Smittcamp Family Honors College students are not often recognized for their outstanding service to the campus and the general community.

In 2002-03 alone, the 200 Smittcamp students provided over 4,750 hours of service to the community through a multitude of individual and group service projects.   These projects benefited over 60 organizations, including Stone Soup of Fresno, The American Red Cross, University HOPE, Kid's Day and many more.

This semester, the Smittcamp program will be launching a new campaign to increase their students' service by developing group service projects around specific themes.   The goal of this effort will be to provide meaningful short and long-range service projects which address social issues of concern to the Smittcamp students and the general community.