Additional Ways to Support Stanford Students in Public Service

In addition to teaching a service-learning course and/or directing a community-based research project, there are many other opportunities for Stanford faculty to help make public service an integral part of a Stanford education. Faculty can encourage students to participate in Haas Center programs or become a mentor or advisor to students involved in service. The following describes a few of these opportunities:

Advise a Public Service Scholar.
The Public Service Scholars Program is a year-long academic program (Urban Studies 198) for seniors interested in writing an honors thesis in an area that is related to or involves service or political action. Faculty can serve as thesis advisors to students in this program and/or encourage students to apply to the program. Deadline for student applications is in mid-April of the student’s junior year.
For more information, contact Jackie Schmidt-Posner, jsp@stanford.edu.

Mentor a Haas Center fellowship recipient.
The Haas Center offers over 90 summer and postgraduate fellowships that allow students to explore local, national and international issues. Some of these require or recommend preparatory courses for students to learn more about the subject matter they will explore through the experience. As a mentor to a fellow, faculty provide guidance in developing learning goals for the fellowship experience and for exploring post-fellowship extensions such as related course work or follow-up research.
For more information about Haas Center fellowships, contact Ilana Golin, igolin@stanford.edu.

Sponsor an Alternative Spring Break directed reading.
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a student-led program that provides Stanford students with a chance to explore societal issues through a winter quarter one-unit directed reading and spring break service immersion experience. With advice and support of faculty advisors and Haas Center staff, student trip leaders design and lead the directed readings and spring break service projects.
For more information, visit the website at: http://www.stanford.edu/group/ASB or e-mail the ASB coordinators, asb@haas.stanford.edu.

Sponsor a directed reading or directed research project for a student interested in exploring a public service issue at a deeper level.
Through independent arrangements with faculty, students can read about or research social issues related to their service endeavors.
For more information, contact Karin Cotterman, karinc@stanford.edu.