“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” — Albert Einstein

Cleveland State Community College hosted a Tennessee Academic Civic Engagement Program Conference. The conference, conducted by administrators from Vanderbilt University, was regional training for staff members of community colleges of East Tennessee. They learned how to implement service learning programs on their campuses, according to a news release.

Representatives from Walters State, Chattanooga State Technical Institute and Roane State Community College also attended.

TACEP was created with a grant from Learn and Serve America, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service created to connect Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation, according to a news release.

“We’ve had a great two days at Cleveland State. The faculty here is wonderful. The president is wonderful. He’s very enthusiastic, and it takes having a motivated faculty and a really supportive administration to make this work for students and the community,” Dr. Sharon Shields, TACEP academic training leader and professor of Human and Organizational Development at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, said in a news release.

“This is a perfect example of how we get students out in the community getting to know people,” said Cleveland State President Carl Hite. “It helps students not just in terms of applying their skills of what they’ve learned in the classroom setting, but also their needs. Wherever you look, all of the research shows that learning has improved, and it helps build wonderful relationships out in the community, so it is a win for everyone involved.”

Service-learning engages students in the educational process, using what they learn in the classroom to solve reallife problems, the information noted. Students learn about democracy and citizenship while becoming active, contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform.

For more information on TACEP, call Susan Webb-Curtis at 472-7141, ext. 718.

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