Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement (OSLACE)

Programs

The Office of Global and Community and Community Outreach (also known as "GloCo") supports many different community/university collaborative initiatives, including:

Falcon Scholars in Action

The University of Montevallo has partnered with Shelby County Community Services to develop the University of Montevallo Falcon Scholars in Action (UMFSIA) program. Through this program, twenty-five UM students are selected each year to serve clients in agencies and programs throughout Shelby County. In exchange, students are provided with an annual stipend of $2,000, invaluable professional experiences, and tremendous post-graduate connections.

Visit the FSIA page for more information. Contact: falconscholars@montevallo.edu.

ValloCycle: the Montevallo Bike Share

ValloCycle is the first and only city-wide bike sharing program in the state of Alabama. What started as an idea in an Environmental Studies course came to fruition through the hard work and dedication of a core of volunteer UM students, faculty, and staff, City Council representatives, and City of Montevallo staff. The ValloCycle Board meets in GloCo, and board members regularly use the facilities to support the program.

Visit vallocycle.com for more information. Contact: vallocycle@gmail.com.

Blueprints College Access Initiative

During fall 2012, UM mentors worked with the entire 9th grade at MHS.

Since 2009, the Blueprints College Access Initiative has connected Montevallo High School Students with UM student mentors, giving them access to the resources and relationships necessary for them to be career- and college-ready after graduating from high school. During the semester-long program, UM students in a Service Learning course serve as “near peer” mentors for Montevallo High School students in a series of sessions that cover topics such as career and college options, academic skills, how to pay for college, and soft skills like interviewing and resume-building. The program culminates in a field trip to UM, where MHS students sit in on a real college class and enjoy a meal and graduation ceremony in Anna Irvin Dining Hall.

Visit blueprintsalabama.wordpress.com for more information. Contact: servicelearning@montevallo.edu.

Montevallo Sister City Commission

Students from Echizen visited Montevallo during summer 2012. Montevallo students will visit Japan in 2013.

The mission of the MSCC is to foster cultural, economic, industrial, athletic and educational exchanges between Montevallo and communities in other parts of the world. The MSCC hopes that these exchanges will celebrate cultural diversity and broaden individuals' global understanding, interpersonal communication and intercultural knowledge, thus strengthening the foundation for peace and tolerance as our community moves toward a more integrated, internationalized citizenry.
 

Visit montevalloscc.com for more information. Contact: montevalloscc@yahoo.com.

Montevallo Artwalk

Montevallo’s Artwalks are supported by both the University and City of Montevallo, and they bring many local and out-of-town visitors to our downtown and campus. Montevallo hosted its first Artwalk in October 2011, and in 2012 held 4 events. During the Artwalk, Main Street businesses fill their storefronts with a variety of artworks and artists set up booths along Main Street. Residents within the town walls and far beyond flood the streets to enjoy the street party atmosphere.
 

Visit the Facebook Page for more information. Contact: montevalloartwalk@gmail.com.

Habitat for Humanity, UM Chapter

One hand cannot clap on its own but it needs the other hand to make a clap."
- Maasai tribal sayings

The student run-initiative at UM is being relaunched on-campus this 2012-2013 school year. Habitat for Humanity, a national non-profit, is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. The student chapter at Montevallo has focused on restoring and renovating homes in the local community to bring beauty back to Montevallo. Most recent efforts have been focused on the Shoal Creek/Prentice Village neighborhoods. All services are free to residents of the local community. Several pending projects during the year will be dependant on securing materials to complete projects.

For more information, contact servicelearning@montevallo.edu.

Service Learning Courses

A growing number of service learning courses are being offered at the University of Montevallo. These are courses that enable students to provide a needed service to the community while completing academic degree requirements.

These courses provide:

·         Offer new areas for scholarship and research

·         Link course content to the real world

·         Provide students with employment contacts

·         Instill a sense of civic responsibility in students

·         Allow for collaboration between the University of Montevallo and the broader community.

Courses are offered in a variety of subject areas including, but not limited to Social Work, Business, Psychology, Education, Art. Talk to you academic advisor about available service learning courses.

Other opportunities for academic integration include Faculty Learning Community and alternative spring break trips. Email servicelearning@montevallo.edu for more information.