OACS Update

Posted by Eileen Remley on Friday, September 30, 2016 in News Blurbs.

OACS Global Service-Learning Programs Accepting Applications

OACS is now accepting student applications for our summer 2017 service-learning programs to Ecuador, London, Morocco, and South Africa. OACS Service Programs challenge students to question their perspectives and roles in the shared human experience through pre-service curriculum, intensive service, post-service skills application, and continuous reflection. The programs are prudently planned in order to best facilitate students’ abilities to connect meaningfully with people different from themselves through humble engagement and reciprocal dialogues within host communities. Through this exposure to firsthand knowledge and lived experiences, students will examine the deeper issues related to equity and justice and identify systematic barriers to equality and inclusivity. Students with a sincere desire to grapple with the complexity of human connectedness, to challenge their known values, and to reconcile academic knowledge with an authentic exploration of social and environmental injustices are encouraged to apply for an OACS Service Program. If you know of students who may be interested in applying, please direct them to the website.

Site Leader for the Ecuador Program

OACS is seeking a qualified DOS candidate to serve as site leader for the 2017 OACS Global Service Program in Ecuador. The Ecuador Global Service Program is a 6-week international service-learning program whereby Vanderbilt students are immersed in Ecuadorian culture through working alongside indigenous and marginalized communities to better understand social and environmental injustices from a community-based service perspective. Through a valued, 7-year partnership with the Yanapuma Foundation in Quito, the Ecuador Global Service program seeks to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for the Vanderbilt student cohort, local partners, and the communities served.

Qualified site leader candidates will have advanced-fluent Spanish skills, experience in or knowledge of South America, preferably Ecuador, experience leading group programs or group service trips, and experience facilitating challenging conversations and reflection with students. All applicants should obtain permission from their supervisor to participate in the program, which includes preparing for and leading 7-8 2-hour seminars during the spring semester, attending 4 training sessions with OACS staff, and working abroad with students for 4-weeks. The site leader will be living in modest homestay accommodations with an Ecuadorian family and will be expected to be the main point of contact between the students, OACS staff, service sites, and the Yanapuma Foundation. For a detailed description of the job requirements, please see the information below.

Presidential Debate Watch and Voter Registration

The Office of Active Citizenship and Service coordinated a Presidential Debate Watch event on Sept. 26^th in Rand Lounge. Before the debate began, Abby Sutton, Civic Engagement Coordinator with the Tennessee Secretary of State office shared remarks about the importance of registering to vote and casting a ballot. More than 218 people attended the Presidential Debate Watch on Sept. 26^th, and many participants took advantage of the opportunity to register to vote.

OACS will be hosting three events in the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debate Watch and Voter Registration program series before the General Election on Nov. 8^th

• Oct. 4^th Vice Presidential Debate – Guest speaker Dr. Vanessa Beasley, dean of the Martha Rivers Ingram Commons
• Oct. 9^th Presidential Debate – Guest speaker Dr. Allison Anoll, Assistant Professor of Political Science
• Oct. 19^th Presidential Debate – Guest speaker Dr. Clive Mentzel, Director of OACS and Affiliated Faculty – Political Science and Medicine, Health, and Society

The deadline to register in the State of Tennessee to vote in the General Election is Tuesday, Oct. 11^th. Students who wish to register to vote in the State of Tennessee can visit the Tennessee Secretary of State website http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote or the Davidson County Election Commission website http://www.nashville.gov/Election-Commission/Voters/Voting-Information/Voter-Registration.aspx.

Students whose family residence is not in the State of Tennessee have the right to choose to register to vote in their home state or the State of Tennessee. Students should visit the website of their local election commission to find information about the voter registration processes and deadlines for the state in which they choose to register to vote. Find information from your state at http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/contact_your_state.aspx.

International Day of Peace

On Wednesday, September 21^st, 84 students, faculty, and staff attended “Peace of Mind: A Panel Discussion on World Peace” presented by Vanderbilt International Relations Association and co-sponsored by the Office of Active Citizenship and Service. To honor of the International Day of Peace, panel speakers representing Vanderbilt Hillel, South Asian Cultural Exchange, Muslim Students Association, Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students, and OACS discussed ways to foster ideals of peace, prosperity, and cooperation from a regional and global perspective. OACS would, in particular, like to thank all panelists including Dr. William Luis, Priya Trivedi, Dhivyaa Anandan, Hamzah Raza, Rabbi Joshua Barton, and Dr. Clive Mentzel for their contributions towards a thought-provoking discourse on peace.

President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships. The Honor Roll’s Presidential Award is the highest federal recognition an institution can receive for its commitment to community, service-learning, and civic engagement. To achieve such a comprehensive picture at Vanderbilt, OACS interviewed numerous campus partners and colleagues to collect data on programs that improve the economic, educational, and general service opportunities for our interconnected communities.

For the 7^th consecutive year, Vanderbilt was recognized as an institution on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for our strong and consistent partnerships with organizations working to create opportunities in economic, education, and community engagement initiatives. Vanderbilt is honored to be listed as we collectively pursue these initiatives.

Thank you to all those who contributed to this process. We look forward to beginning data collection again in the spring semester. If you would like to know more about the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, please visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/honor-roll.

Nichols Humanitarian Fund 10^th Anniversary

OACS is proud to announce the 10^th anniversary of the Nichols Humanitarian Fund. The Nichols Humanitarian Fund was established in 2006 by the E.C. and Lucile Hamby Nichols Trust, and by Edward C. Nichols, Jr. (JD ’70) and his wife, Janice Nichols. The Fund is a companion scholarship fund to the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal, and encourages Vanderbilt students to become better citizens of the world and to broaden their thinking by volunteering for humanitarian efforts. The Fund enables students to volunteer for domestic or international humanitarian service opportunities by making support available for educational, travel, and living expenses during their time of service. The Fund distributes awards based on merit and need to Vanderbilt students to pay the expenses of their humanitarian activities. Since the Fund was established, 261 scholarships have been awarded to Vanderbilt students, enabling them to pursue humanitarian missions to virtually every part of the world. Please join OACS at the annual Nichols Reception in the Commons Multipurpose Room, Thursday, October 20^th 4:30-6:00.