2009 Summit at a Glance

• Pre-Summit Workshops led by Sherril Gelmon, Roger Henry, Michele James-Deramo, and Edward Zlotkowski.
  
• Plenary speakers including Edward Zlotkowski, Patti Clayton and other nationally respected scholars.
• Concurrent sessions and panels on the best-practices of service-learning.
• Participate in a Saturday Service Project--a playground build with Marybeth Lima of Louisiana State University, winner of the 2007 Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service-Learning and the 2005 Ernest A. Lynton Award, the nation's two top service-learning faculty awards.
• Enjoy Creole cuisine, Cajun music, and historic sites in Louisiana's colorful capital city!
• Click here to see what's in and around Baton Rouge.

The 2009 Gulf-South Summit conference program is now available for review.

2009 Summit Theme:
Civic Engagement at the Crossroads:  Rethinking Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities

The maturing of service-learning and civic engagement during the last quarter of the 20th century challenged us to rethink the concepts of “service” and “learning.” Service can no longer be taken for granted, complicated by questions of who serves and who is served. Learning has also been complicated by blurred lines between learner and teacher.

The 21st century challenges us to take seriously such possibilities as students as teachers, faculty as learners, and new models for community partners. Thus the questions multiply: Can we expand our stakeholder base to government and corporate partners? How can students take on teaching and leadership roles? What models help faculty to learn best? How can community partners share the role of instructor?

Join colleagues representing a variety of stakeholders at the 2009 Gulf-South Summit to explore the many ways service-learning and civic engagement can be redefined to meet the needs of the 21st century.

Presentations throughout the conference will address the following three tracks:

1. Rethinking Student Roles:
Potential topics include Students as Colleagues, Students as Mentors, Students as Service Recipients, Students as Advocates, Students as Researchers, Students as Partner Liaisons, Students as Co-Authors, Student Leadership Models, Preparing Students for Partnership Roles, Students with Different Abilities

2. Rethinking Faculty Roles:
Potential topics include Faculty as Learners, Faculty as Peer Reviewers, Faculty as Reflective Practitioners, Faculty as Community Members, Faculty as Recipients, Faculty as Partners in Research, Faculty Mentoring Models, Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations, Preparing Faculty for Partnership Roles, Cross-Campus Collaborations, Faculty and their Academic Communities

3. Rethinking Community Roles:
Potential topics include Community Partners as Co-Educators, Community as Research Partners, Collaborations with Government and Business, Specific Neighborhood Partnerships, Sustained Relationships, Community Advisory Roles, Transformational Partnerships, International Partnerships, Forming and Closing Relationships, Unpacking Community Stereotypes, Hearing Community Voices, Faith-Based Partners, Unusual Consortia

Wednesday, March 25

Thursday, March 26

Friday, March 27  

Saturday, March 28
Summit Saturday Service Project

Join nationally recognized LSU Biological Engineering Professor Marybeth Lima on a post-Summit service project: building a playground for Baton Rouge area children. Special building skills are not required!

Sign-up for the Saturday Service Project when you register for the Summit.

Click here for more information on the Saturday Service Project.

Water, lunch, and transportation to the project site and back to the hotel will be provided. Dress comfortably (hat and close-toed shoes recommended). Baton Rouge weather in late March is typically pleasant; however it can also be unpredictable. Please check weather reports prior to leaving for the Summit.

For more information, contact Louisiana State University Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership at 225-578-3704 or summit09@lsu.edu.