Travel Guide on the Culture, Mission, and Politics of Academia to Promote Service-Learning, (A)

This chapter serves as a travel guide to help community service-learning professionals navigate the culture and system of higher education. The interactive nature of activities here will prepare you to conduct what might be considered "academic reconnaissance." You will be able to chart a course through the maze of organizational flowcharts, the terrain of professional turf, and the white-water rapids of intangible cultural variables. When traveling in foreign lands, it's good to have a dictionary or phrase book to help communicate, so I include a glossary of "academese," otherwise known as "facultyspeak." The terms appear in italics throughout the chapter. Reflection passages are dispersed throughout to help you consider the relevance of key points and think strategically. The reflection process includes specific information ("What?" sections) followed by insights ("So What?" sections) to aid you in understanding the importance and relevance of that information. The "Now What?" boxes propose some steps for enriching your understanding of and promoting service-learning in your institution. The activities may require you to do some research or to gather materials. You should reflect on these items and then consider appropriate steps for strategically working with faculty and administrators. [author]