International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement


The International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE) is an international, non-profit organization devoted to promoting research and discussion about service-learning and community engagement. IARSLCE was launched in 2005, and incorporated in 2007.

To promote the development and dissemination of research on service-learning and community engagement internationally and across all levels of the education system.
Our objectives are to advance the fields of service-learning and community engagement research across the educational spectrum (primary, secondary, post-secondary, and further education).

The Administrative Home for IARSLCE is located at: PO Box 1096 Portland, OR 97207-1096 Phone: 503-725-9585 Fax: 503-245-5217

to promote the exchange of ideas, experiences, data and research among its members; to disseminate knowledge and research on service-learning and community engagement; to encourage continually improving the quality and rigor of research in these fields; to provide a forum for the presentation of research findings, ideas, methods and opinions across educational systems; to facilitate the exchange of information and creation of collaborations among scholars and practitioners around the world; to support and facilitate the development of new scholars entering the fields of research on service-learning and community engagement; to create venues for ongoing learning and communication among the members; to establish communication strategies that facilitate the dissemination of research beyond the members to other communities of scholars and practitioners; to initiate other activities and programs that support the interests of members and advance the fields of service-learning and community engagement; and to conduct all activities in a self-supporting, fiscally accountable and ethical manner.
The Association pursues its objectives through various strategies, programs, and activities that support research and information exchange, member involvement, and dissemination.

sponsorship of the annual International Research Conference on Service-Learning and Community Engagement to fostering of information sharing and networking; dissemination of findings and methods through an annual edited volume derived from the conference; creation and management of mailing lists, listservs, and an Internet website; collaboration with education, research and professional associations and networks to support service-learning and community engagement; generation of funding for relevant association activities; and support for awards and recognition of achievements.

Sherril Gelmon, Portland State University, Chair Rob Shumer, University of Minnesota, Vice-Chair (Fundraising and Communications Committee Chair) Jennifer Dorr, Washington Campus Compact, Secretary-Treasurer Jeffrey Anderson, Seattle University Shelley Billig, RMC Research Corporation (Publications Committee Co-Chair) Min Cho, Virginia Commonwealth University (Constituency Committee Co-Chair) Janet Eyler, Vanderbilt University Andrew Furco, University of Minnesota (Nominating Committee Chair) Barbara Holland, National Service-learning Clearinghouse and University of Western Sydney (Publications Committee Co-Chair) Emily Janke, Pennsylvania State University, Graduate Student Network Chair Gail Robinson, American Association of Community Colleges John Saltmarsh, NERCHE (Constituency Committee Co-Chair) Maria Nieves Tapia, CLAYSS Marshall Welch, St. Mary's College of California (Conference Committee Chair)

IARSLCE seeks participation from its members in all of its committees. Click here to view a list of the Association’s committees, as well as a brief description of each and a list of current committee members and affiliations. If you are interested in joining a committee as an active contributor, please send an email to info@researchslce.org with your name, organizational affiliation, and a brief narrative description of how you could contribute to the work of the committee. Association leaders will respond to you within a month indicating opportunities to participate.
The Graduate Student Network (GSN) is for graduate students who are interested in advancing research on service-learning and community engagement. The GSN is an affiliate group of IARSLCE and provides a graduate-student only listserv, mentoring opportunities, and research advancement and professional development workshops at the annual IARSLCE conference (Oct. 25-28, New Orleans, LA). Currently, the GSN listserv is open to all graduate students, but it will be restricted to IARSLCE members in late October 2008. Please e-mail the GSN chair if you would like to be added to the listserv (click here to contact). Please include your name, e-mail, graduate program, and institution. Mentoring, research advancement, and professional development opportunities will be available at the IARSLCE conference in October. Registration and more information about the conference are available at the conference website. If you wish to join or have any questions about GSN or IARSLCE, please contact Emily Janke by clicking here.

IARSLCE grew out of the Annual International K-H Service-Learning Research Conference which began as an idea championed by Shelley H. Billig, Ph.D. of RMC Research Corporation and Andrew Furco, Ph.D. of the University of California Berkeley. Click here to learn more.