Fort Hays State University's Provost's Service-Learning Faculty Fellows Program has named the third cohort of service-learning fellows.

Tamara J. Lynn, instructor of justice studies, and R. Juti Winchester, assistant professor of history, will begin serving as service learning fellows.

The application process requires interested faculty to submit a description of their service-learning project, a statement of why they are motivated to participate in service learning and what he or she expects to gain from their involvement in the program.

Training is split into two phases. The first phase, professional development, requires fellows to participate in an orientation and development workshop, develop a service-learning course and serve as a member of the Service-Learning Committee.

The second phase, academic leadership, requires presentations on the purpose and practice of service learning to internal and external audiences in addition to teaching at least one course that includes a service-learning component. Fellows will also be asked to meet a number of expectations and responsibilities contained in the program's charter document.

Lynn's service learning project is to incorporate service-learning into the criminology course work as a first-year experience for justice studies majors. Students will be assigned to groups that will be assigned to a specific program that serves some facet of the criminal justice system. The programs will be ones that are not currently provided in Ellis County. The students will work with representatives from law enforcement, the courts, court services or corrections. The groups will develop reports evaluating their programs goals, objectives and effectiveness.

Winchester's project is to develop a museum studies class with "a heavy hands-on component in concert with the exhibition goals of the Ellis County Historical Society Museum." The intent is to provide an overview of the "purpose, function, and history of museums and their role in society." They will also work on installations and exhibits, both in the actual physical work and in planning and programming.

Instituted by FHSU Provost Dr. Larry Gould and the university's Service-Learning Committee, the faculty fellows program is designed to increase the number of service-learning courses and contribute to the integrity and value of service learning as a part of tenure, promotion, sabbatical, merit and decision-making processes.

The program is supported in cooperation with resources provided by George Welch and the Welch Charitable Fund. Welch is a successful entrepreneur in real-estate development, transportation, manufacturing, finance and banking.

For more information on the Service Learning Committee or the service learning fellows, contact Dr. Stacey Smith, committee chair, at slgsmith@fhsu.edu.