University of Louisiana System Publishes First Edition of the Journal of Service-Learning in Higher Education

Published on under 2012 / National / News / Publications

 

BATON ROUGE, La. – The University of Louisiana System announces the first edition of the Journal of Service-Learning in Higher Education (JSLHE) is available online at www.ulsystem.edu/JSLHE.  

The UL System launched JSLHE, a subscription-free online publication, in the fall to encourage academic research about service-learning.  A team of 37 reviewers evaluated 35 manuscripts from across the country and selected the following for JSLHE’s inaugural edition:

  • Student Employment and Perceptions of Service-Learning by Jennifer Reed-Bouley and Molly A. Wernli from the College of Saint Mary, and Paul Sather from the University of Nebraska at Omaha;
  • An Introduction to Sustainability Service-Learning Course for the Creation of Sustainable Citizens to Engage Wicked Problems by Kimberly Van Meter, Melanie Reichwald, Erica Blair, Alexandra Swift, Carolyn Colvin, and Craig Just from the University of Iowa;
  • Social Work Students’ Perceptions of Service-Learning by Elaine M. Maccio and Roxanne A. Voorhies from Louisiana State University;
  • Undergraduate Honors Service-Learning and Effects on Locus of Control by Trae Stewart from Texas State University; and
  • Community at the Center of the Storm by Marybeth Lima from Louisiana State University.

JSLHE is an outgrowth of collaboration between all nine universities in the University of Louisiana System and managed by the UL System’s Service-Learning Council.  David Yarbrough, Associate Professor of Child and Family Studies and Dean of Community Service at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, serves as the journal’s Executive Editor.

“I am very pleased with our first edition.  The articles cut a wide path across many of the challenges and successes associated with service-learning,” said Yarbrough.  “The competition was strong from all across the country and academic rigor was evident in the review process and quality of the publication.” 

Although the journal is subscription-free, people can register as readers, authors, and reviewers.  In less than a year, JSLHE has amassed a following from members of higher education institutions in 19 states in the U.S., as well as Canada and Indonesia.

“This journal exemplifies what the University of Louisiana System is all about – collaboration, experiential learning, service to our communities, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge.  Judging by its wide reach, the journal is certainly fulfilling a need,” said UL System President Randy Moffett.

In addition to the executive editor, there are four section editors and 10 review board members.  They are:

  • Section Editor Morris Coats, Professor of Economics at Nicholls State University;
  • Section Editor Steven Gruesbeck, Instructor of Psychology and Director of Service-Learning at Northwestern State University;
  • Section Editor Sandra Hill, Head of the Department of English at the University of Louisiana at Monroe;
  • Section Editor Jackie Tisdell, Assistant Vice President of Communications at the University of Louisiana System;
  • Rory Bedford, Director of Service-Learning at Grambling State University;
  • Michael Buckles, Head of the Department of Performing Arts and Associate Professor of Music at McNeese State University;
  • Nancy Darland, Professor of Nursing at Louisiana Tech University;
  • Tena Golding, Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence and Professor of Mathematics at Southeastern Louisiana University,
  • Marybeth Lima, Director of the Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership at Louisiana State University;
  • Mike McCullough, Director of the Institute for Civic Engagement at the University of Tennessee at Martin;
  • Kenneth Reardon, Director of the Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning at the University of Memphis;
  • Stuart Stewart, Executive Director of Louisiana Campus Compact;
  • Shirley Theriot, Director of the Center for Community Service Learning at the University of Texas at Arlington; and
  • Shannon O’Brien Wilder, Director of the Office of Service-Learning at the University of Georgia.

The online journal is being housed by Simon Fraser University through the Public Knowledge Project’s Open Journal Systems.  This is to ensure a streamlined submission, review, and publishing process with sustainability.

-ULS-

ABOUT THE UL SYSTEM: The University of Louisiana System is the largest higher education system in Louisiana enrolling about 94,000 students at Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Louisiana  at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the University of New Orleans.