The Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for
Service-Learning

German, math, psychology, art, anthropology, sociology, classics, English, Spanish, public health, chemistry, among others

Program Highlights

Partnerships with Woodward Elementarywoodward

Two blocks from campus, K students tutor in the classroom and after school, prevent playground bullying, develop nutrition curriculum, and work with kids in the garden.

More >>

Bringing Local Foods to Campus woodward
Students, staff and faculty work with farmers, campus dining service, and Fair Food Matters to promote local agriculture and implement a local foods policy at "K."   We raise awareness of public health and environmental issues, globalization, immigration and migrant labor, and world and local hunger.
More >>
Peacemaking at the Juvenile Home woodward

Selected K students work with incarcerated youth every Saturday in Mentoring and Motivation Among Peers, developing conflict resolution and peace-making skills, and improving health and self-esteem.
More >>

Neighborhood Organizing woodward
In KIm Cummings's ANSO 224, students work in Building Blocks, an award-winning program to regenerate social capital in Kalamazoo's low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Students and residents plan and implement projects to paint, repair, landscape and build on assets to create ties that endure. More >>

Public Art for Community Change
woodwardStudents in Sarah Lindley's Ceramics Handbuilding I calss (ARTX120) hold workshops with community members to make hundreds of bowls. Then we hold a fundraiser for Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes where people receive a simple meal of soup and bread and take a bowl home as a reminder of hunger in the world. More >> 		Spanish Immersion at Lincoln Elementary woodward

Working in Spanish immersion classrooms in this KPS K-6 elementary is a great way for K students to gain intercultural understanding and improve their spansih while helping children succeed academically.

More >>

Service-Learning Courses in the 1st Year woodward

 Every year, faculty offer four to six first-year seminars that incorporate learning from the community. These vary, but can include courses on Autism, Japanese, Commitments, and Economics.		 Co-Authoring Storybooks with Children woodward
The CoAuthorship Project in Sui-Lan Tan's Developmental Psychology course has paired "K" and elementary students to write storybooks every quarter since 1998. Tan's Social Development students serve on "Playground Crew" and create anti-bullying materials.
More >>
Bilingual Mentoring woodward

This award-winning program links about 25 "K" students with individual middle school students whose first language in not English. They meet twice weekly all year to work on academics and learn from one another.

More >>

After School Math Enrichment
woodwardDeveloped by Community Liason Theresa Denton, Professor John Fink, and KPS staff, this after school math program debuted in 2007 with 50 KPS middle schoolers and 20 "K" tutors. Chosen for high aptitude, each KPS student comes to "K"s campus twice weekly, while a family liason assures parent involvement. The program is funded by TG and the Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation.