University of Great Falls

SOC 372 - Syllabus

Camp Sky Child

Instructor:      Deborah  J. Kottel                                                         Phone: 406-791-5339

Office:              Providence Hall, Room 225                                            Fax:      406-791-5990

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This service learning course will involve students in the sponsorship of Camp Sky Child.  The camp is for

children who have a parent involved in the criminal justice system.  Students will be involved in the

organization and planning phase of the camp as well as the day to day operations of the week long camp. 

Students will receive 3 credits.

MISSION STATEMENT

As an expression of the teaching mission of Jesus Christ, the mission of the University of Great Falls is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain a liberal education for living and for making a living.      The University of Great Falls was founded through the collaborative efforts of the Sisters of Providence, the Ursuline Sisters, the Catholic Bishop of Great Falls and the civic community all of whom recognized societal need for higher education. Its educational mission, sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, continues to be the shared endeavor of dedicated people.      The University cooperates with both private and public institutions to attain goals consistent with its educational purpose and values.      The University continually and responsibly evaluates its operation and programs. It develops professional and career programs and continuing education courses designed in view of society’s present and future needs as well as traditional academic degrees in appropriate fields.

The University offers students a foundation for actively implementing Gospel values and the teaching of Jesus within the Catholic tradition; it serves students of all beliefs who wish to take advantage of its programs.       The faculty and staff of the University join with students in a cooperative and enthusiastic search for truth, so that students may develop: Character           have a positive impact on the world and to the communities in which they live and work, particularly by recognizing and accepting personal accountability to themselves, to society, and to God; Competence      further their ability to live full and rewarding lives by becoming competent working members of society who know the basics of their professional field and have access to future learning; Commitment      find meaning in life which enables them to participate effectively in society while transcending its limitations, by living according to their own moral and religious convictions, as well as by respecting the dignity and beliefs of other people.

GOALS FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

University of Great Falls graduates ENGAGE THE QUESTIONS

What does it mean to be human? The university encourages students to

- appreciate the inherent value and interrelatedness of all God's creation

- appreciate the inherent dignity of every person

- appreciate and value cultural differences and similarities

- appreciate that community is essential to being and becoming human

- appreciate the responsibility to maintain and strengthen society by helping others and advancing justice

- appreciate the value of aesthetic and creative expression.

What does it mean to participate in intellectual inquiry? The university encourages students to

- dedicate themselves to the pursuit of truth and knowledge

- cherish the cumulative wisdom of human inquiry, past and present as a means to enrich the future

- civilly question and challenge, and remain open to being questioned and challenged, in pursuit of the common good

- think critically and creatively, analyze situations and proposals accurately; identify issues, evaluate and appreciate alternative positions.

What does it mean to "make a living" and to live as a productive human being? The university encourages students to

- communicate clearly and effectively in multiple modes of discourse

- identify problems and articulate appropriate solutions

- accept the consequences of their decisions and actions

- dedicate themselves to their field of endeavor

- possess expertise in a specific area and appreciation of other areas

- value the importance of personal health.

What does it mean to participate in the spiritual and religious dimensions of life? The university encourages students to

- explore religious world views and value systems and their implications for living

- contemplate spirituality, the meaning of God, religion, and the gospel of Jesus Christ and their importance for living

- further God's work of reaching out to humanity

- make sound moral judgments

- appreciate the Christian and Catholic traditions.

SCHOOL OF HUMAN SERVICES GOALS

Ø To prepare students to qualitatively and quantitatively study human and social issues and institutions in order to allow them to make contributions the quality of they're own and others' lives.

Ø To assist students to think critically about and to react resiliently in influencing the problems of dignity and justice confronting them, others, and communities.

Ø To assist students to think ethically about issues, which affect individuals and communities, and to make reasoned moral choices about courses of action open in influencing these issues.

Ø To prepare students to understand themselves, their roles in the local and global communities, and their responsibility to be a catalyst for social change and stability.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Students are expected to exhibit high standards of academic conduct. All acts of dishonesty in academic work constitute academic misconduct. Such acts include:

Ø Cheating: Use or attempted use of unauthorized material or the work of another student in any academic assignment, paper, or examination.

Ø Plagiarism: Intentional representation of another’s work as one’s own. This includes the unauthorized and unacknowledged use of the phrases, sentences, paragraphs, ideas, illustrations, drawings, photographs, or computer programs of another.

The course instructor is the initial judge of whether a student is guilty of academic misconduct. Should a student disagree with an instructor’s judgment, the student may appeal the instructor’s decision by following the “Procedure for Student Appeal in Academic Matters” in the Student Handbook.

The minimum penalty for an act of academic misconduct shall be a grade of “F” (failure). Severe or repeated instances of academic misconduct will result in more severe sanctions up to and including expulsion.

PROGRAM GOALS FOR SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK, AND HUMAN SERVICES

            1.          To prepare participants for entry-level positions in their chosen field of expertise.

            2.          To prepare students for entrance into graduate studies in their chosen field of expertise.

            3.          To promote resiliency, to help personal and community wounds.

4.          To prepare students to assume advocacy roles that mentors and promotes tolerance, the active side of diversity, and flexibility, the attitudinal companion of change.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.          The students should understand the cause and effect relationship between human behavior, attitudes and their environment by providing community service through “doing”.

The student should be able to:

Ø demonstrate a capacity for independent moral choice.

Ø demonstrate skills in nonverbal and verbal communications with peers, supervisors and younger children.

Ø express and improve personal skills, especially those required in a community service setting.

2.         The student should have community service experiences that will assist in the

development of personal appreciation, feelings valuing and sensitivity to other people and the environment.

                        The student should be able to:

Ø demonstrate self-esteem, sense of personal worth, competence and confidence.

Ø demonstrate personal autonomy and self-direction.

Ø demonstrate personal effectiveness

Ø demonstrate empathy with capacity for social role taking.

Ø demonstrate social effectiveness; develop a sense of “I can”.

3.         The student should be able to understand, analyze, develop and use problem-solving skills and to create alternative responses to service concerns before deciding on a course of action in performing community services.

           The student should be able to:

Ø use basic academic skills in real-life situations through service experience.

Ø apply subject matter to human or environmental needs through service activities.

Ø demonstrate increasing ability for higher-order thinking.

Ø learn independently through reflection on service activity.

CAMP SCHEDULE

            Camp Session will be late July Summer 2008

EVALUATION

Students are expected to complete the following tasks:

            1.         Successfully participate in the organization and running of Camp Sky Child                                   50%

            2.         Keep a journal of your experiences                                                                                             20%

            3.         Prepare a short reflection paper on the experience                                                                      20%

            4.         Meet with the instructor for a personal inventory                                                                         10%