Alisa Holen, assistant professor of art, has been awarded a $1,550 Scholarship of Engagement (SOE) Faculty Grant from Indiana Campus Compact (ICC) for a service learning project within her introductory ceramics course.

“This grant will allow me to restructure Ceramics I into a service learning course based on the mission of Empty Bowls,” Holen said. “The objective of this change is to give students the experience of serving the needs of their community through art. The service learning component of the course would involve making and glazing bowls, instructing community and University novices on how to make bowls, selling bowls, and engaging with a local hunger or homeless-based charity on the distribution of the funds that we raise.”

The idea came about as the result of the concern many students have about what to do with an art major, Holen said. “I find that art, unlike any other field, allows us to help our community and engage in service with our specific skill sets. As a junior faculty member, there is no way I could ever make an $8,000 contribution to the charity of my choice. However, through Empty Bowls I have been able to do this a number of times. It’s a great example of how art can be put to concrete and meaningful work for the community.”

The SOE Faculty Grant program supports faculty projects that establish community engagement and service-learning as part of the curriculum. SOE grants fund the development and implementation of academic courses, community-based research projects, or professional service activities that engage faculty and students in the community. They are intended to support reciprocal partnerships between institutions of higher education and the community, strengthen student learning, increase the institutionalization of service-based engaged learning, and enhance the professional development of faculty.

“There were a large number of high quality submissions and the competition was strong,” said J.E. Jamison, associate director of ICC, in the award letter to Holen. “We look forward to working with you to ensure the successful implementation of your project.” 

Scholarship of Engagement Faculty Grants are funded by the Lilly Endowment.