Tulane University
AC-7: Incentives for Developing Courses

Public Service Course Development Tulane’s core curriculum requirements provide a common academic experience and a breadth of knowledge to every undergraduate student’s program of study. The public service graduation requirement is included as part of the core curriculum to foster a commitment to civic responsibility and leadership. (http://tulane.edu/college/upload/General-Education.pdf) The Center for Public Service (CPS) administers the public service requirement of the undergraduate core curriculum. It offers numerous incentive and support programs to encourage the development of public service courses across the curriculum.

Public Service Course Activity Fund The Center for Public Service (CPS) offers a Course Activity Fund to individual faculty members teaching a service learning course. Faculty teaching service learning courses will have at their disposal $250 per semester to enhance successful outcomes of planned service activities. Faculty will receive reimbursement of their expenses after the submission of receipts. Have Coffee on Us! CPS provides a $10 gift card toward a mid-semester meeting between individual Service Learning instructors and their community partners. Simply getting together to discuss successes, challenges, and to review plans toward the successful completion of a semester-long service learning partnership often improves outcomes. Upper-Level Course Development Grant The Center for Public Service facilitates a grant competition to support the development of service-learning courses designed to serve students at the upper course levels (3000-6000). Public Service Capstone Course Development Grant The Center for Public Service facilitates a grant competition to support the development of service-learning courses designed as capstone experiences in various disciplines. The Felson Public Service Course Development Grant The Center for Public Service facilitates a grant competition to support the development of service-learning courses designed to serve students at the upper level (3000 and above) in various disciplines. Community-Based Research Grant The Center for Public Service facilitates a grant competition to support faculty conducting community-based research. CPS defines community-based research as collaborative, change-oriented research that engages faculty members, students, and community members in projects that address community needs. Community-Based Research Participatory Grant The Center for Public Service (CPS) facilitates a grant competition to support our community partner organizations in their efforts to research topics of importance in the community with the aim of creating knowledge that "contributes to making a concrete and constructive difference in the world." CPS defines Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) as a collaborative approach to research that promotes positive change with and within the community. It involves an equitable relationship between community organizations and university researchers that is reflected in all levels of project design and dissemination.