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Service Learning Projects
Organization: Engineers Without Borders
Group Members: Brian (team leader), Justin, Sandra, Rachel, Christine
The Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) recently received the Sustainable Legacy Award 2006 for its efforts in Peru.
This student-operated organization was founded in October 2003. Its
growing membership is open to all and currently includes students, staff,
and off-campus collaborators. EWB-UCSB is managed by volunteers, allowing
all donations to go directly to the travel, equipment, and supplies required
for each project.
Professional Writing Team members Christine, Justin, Sandra, Rachel,
and Brian expressed an interest in this project, mostly because of its
international background and the impact these projects have with indigenous
people throughout the world to maintain a sustainable existence by utilizing
technology.
Our deliverables for this writing project were a portfolio of fund raising letters, a grant proposal, a maintenance manual, and an informational poster on solar power. We also aided the EWB in improving existing graphics, and by designing a cover for a newly released DVD. Our group finished the main body of the work around May 26, and then moved onto the task of editing, enabling us to present our deliverables to the client by May 31.
Organization: Sustainability Project
Group Members: Maya (team leader), Diana, Chad, Sarah, and Ashley
We work for Katie Maynard who is planning the Sustainability Conference at UCSB June 25-26. This is a large event that reaches out to other University of California campuses, Community Colleges, and Cal States. We have created a press release that discusses the event and topics within Sustainability, a media kit that includes a brochure and press release, and a large display case that describes the event and important issues regarding Sustainability. This display can be seen in the Geography Hall on the 3rd Floor of Ellison.
More information on the Sustainability Project can be found at http://sustainability.ucsb.edu/plan/.
Organization: Office of the Ombuds
Group Members: Crystal (team leader), Andrew, Jessica, Joanna
The Ombuds Office is a dispute resolution resource for the entire community
at UCSB. It serves faculty, staff, and students. The Ombuds offers a
confidential and neutral office to talk about concerns, conflicts, or
other issues that are encountered on campus. If a person comes to the
Ombuds office, the Ombudsperson will listen and clarify the issue at
hand, help develop options to resolve the concern, keep the issue and
person confidential and remain impartial. After discussion, the faculty
member, staff member, or student will decide which option to pursue.
The Service Learning Project Team for the Ombuds focused on methods to
reach undergraduate students at UCSB. Many students do not know about
the Ombuds office or what services they offer. We created outreach materials
to inform undergrads about the office. We created deliverables such as:
a PowerPoint Presentation which can be presented to classes, during summer
orientation sessions, or to the Greek System; an informational flyer
that can be hung around campus or passed around at presentations supplementing
the
PowerPoint; an informational bookmark; and an Undergraduate Outreach
Marketing Plan. The above materials will increase undergraduate awareness
about who the Ombuds are and what they can do for the students at UCSB.
Organization: Kids In Nature (KIN)
Group members: Robert (team leader), Diana O., Daniella, Yani, Brett
We worked for Jennifer Thorsch, Director of KIN. Due to her time constraints working in the Life Sciences department and functioning as director of KIN, Jennifer seldom has time to research and write several grant proposals.
This year, due to her demanding schedule, KIN is several thousand dollars shy of its financial goals for the ‘06-‘07 year. Due to this demand the KIN team created a document that contains all of her grant writing materials. The document includes: past successful grants, researched prospect companies, letters of inquiry (past and new), financial information, brochures, and several other documents. KIN hopes the combined materials can speed up her grant writing process, and make it possible for interns and staff to participate in the process.