Enhanced Service Learning Opportunities at Rome Center and Beyond

The spring semester begins at the U of A Rome Center with two newly Service Learning-designated Architecture Studio sections. ARCH 41106 focuses on the urban regeneration of degraded, incomplete or marginal areas within Rome's peripheral districts. Instructors Francesca Riccardo and Vanessa Minozzi guide students through an in-depth investigation of the local context, drawing on urban, environmental, cultural and socio-human perspectives. 

In support of these and other experiential learning programs at the Rome Center, the Service Learning Initiative hosted a virtual workshop for their faculty and coordinators in December 2025. The workshop provided guidance and resources for integrating Service Learning components into courses at the Rome Center. 

Several additional Service Learning Study Abroad courses are also expected to be offered in 2026, expanding opportunities for students to engage meaningfully with communities abroad. 

In French and Community Engagement in Grenoble, led by Kathy Comfort, students apply their language skills by volunteering in community cafés, after-school programs and cultural events. Through these immersive experiences, students gain insight into cultural differences between French and American social interactions. This exciting program will include a pre-departure component hosted by the Service Learning Initiative to prepare students for their experiential journey. 

All U of A-endorsed Study Abroad Service Learning programs award U of A credit and the Service Learning designation appears on students' transcripts, recognizing the added academic and experiential engagement these experiences provide. 

Undergraduate students participating in designated U of A- endorsed international Service Learning programs may be eligible for the John and Trudy Sher International Service Learning Scholarship Award. This scholarship supports students who demonstrate financial need. The current application deadline is Jan. 23, 2026. For more information, students should contact the Study Abroad Office. 

Upcoming Service Learning Study Abroad Programs Expected for 2026 

Intercultural Communication in Rome (Summer) 
Led by Veronica Mobley 
Application deadline: Jan. 15, 2026 (closed) 

French in Grenoble (Summer) 
Led by Kathy Comfort 
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2026 

Trekking Australia: Animals, Aboriginal Culture, Rainforests, and Reefs (August Intersession) 
Led by Kathi Jogan and Ken Coffey 
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2026 

Cultural Perspectives on Health, Recreation, and Sports in the Bahamas (May Intersession) 
Led by Lynette Washington and Simeon Hinsey 
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2026 

For more information about the Service Learning Initiative, including on-campus course offerings, visit the Service Learning Initiative website or email the Service Learning coordinator at svclrn01@uark.edu.