Editor,
The spring semester starts today with students already enrolling in classes. But several courses, which are meaningful to both the community and UNM, hardly have any takers. Such courses may be scrapped for want of sufficient numbers of students.
This is a scenario that has dogged me and several of my colleagues at the Research Service Learning Program. We have offered interesting classes that serve as great résumé builders as well as provide an opportunity to give back to the community. We work hard through the year developing community relations and researching projects that our students and community would benefit from. Yet, semester after semester, we would be lucky to have five students in our class.
I am writing this letter to inform readers that the Research Service Learning Program offers several opportunities to study an interesting subject using an unconventional teaching format. We provide opportunities for students to experience the vagaries of the real world and develop as well as apply theory through observation and experience. Students gain valuable hands-on experience that also enriches their résumés. Several students have discovered their true passion through these service learning classes. We offer classes through several departments on campus.
But the most important point is that such courses are an opportunity to give back to the community in return for the opportunity of getting educated at this university. We have to remember that for every one of us who is receiving education in this university, there are dozens of families who, for many generations, will not enter the portals of UNM. For every one of us who will, upon graduation, find a good job, there are several dozens who will visit the Storehouse and local soup kitchens and food-bank services daily. For every one of us who will grow in status due to our education, there will be dozens who will remain disempowered. We have an obligation to return to this community for the wonderful bounty that has been granted to us.
Here is an opportunity to give back. Please register for one of the Research Service Learning Program courses that fit your graduation or schedule requirements. There are several courses in several departments to select from. Visit Unm.edu/~rslp for a list of the courses to be offered this semester.
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I want to let the readers know that though the Research Service Learning Program classes require off-campus activity, it is neither overwhelming nor unmanageable. In fact, many students look forward to the off-campus activity eagerly. I have watched some of my students take initiative and work over the winter break on a project that has been graded. Something more beautiful than the pleasure of getting an A awakens within them. My colleagues and I have seen that joy in our students.
For instance, the class that I am teaching this semester, CJ393 "Communication and Hunger," involves developing a community garden on campus as one of the service projects. We will be continuing work done by students of the fall semester. We will also be working in collaboration with other Research Service Learning Program courses on the hunger issue.
Bhavana Upadhyaya
UNM student
