We are delighted to welcome you to the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2015, taking place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 2 to 4 of May. Psychology, nowadays, offers a large range of scientific fields where it can be applied. The goal of understanding individuals and groups (mental functions and behavioral…

The term service-learning is used frequently these days, but confusion remains as to what it is and why it matters. More importantly, are there any measurable benefits? This issue of "The Progress of Education Reform" looks at four research studies that explore the impact of service-learning on student achievement and civic engagement. A…

Study abroad represents a powerful tool for internationalizing students' higher education experience; however, current participation numbers indicate that male students go on study abroad programs at half the rate of female students. This rate reflects broader engagement trends for male college students, who have fallen behind female participation…

The Serve America Act was signed into law in April 2009. The Act provides for many opportunities to serve and learn for pre-college youth, college students and graduates, and even baby boomers. It dramatically increases intensive service opportunities by setting AmeriCorps on a path from 75,000 positions annually to 250,000 by 2017, focusing that…

When people ask Bruce Solheim for the location of the Citrus College Veterans Program office, he replies, "It's in my backpack." He's only half joking. Solheim, a professor of history at the Glendora, California-based college, serves as volunteer veterans coordinator. Over the past three years, he and other volunteers have built a…

Over the past 25 years, there has been a call for change within American higher education, with an increasing number of foundations, national organizations, and individual researchers pushing for institutions of higher education to become more involved with the surrounding communities and American society (Campus Compact, 2011; Glass &…

Ground rules need to be recognized in order to make the contributions of public relations volunteers successful. Before beginning, public relations volunteers needs to know what the organization expects of them. Volunteers also should: identify the resources available to them; define and identify the tasks that apply to the specific situation;…

Describes an experimental program in which volunteers provided direct protective services to parents who were involved in cases of child abuse. (DP)

Some persons seek volunteer work actively and participate enthusiastically. Others have to be recruited and motivated to make them successful as volunteer workers. The purpose of this book is to guide the professional staffs and the volunteer leaders of the groups that provide opportunities for volunteers in the best techniques in the selection…

Provides guidelines culled from the experience of school systems that have used parent volunteers successfully in their assessment programs. (Author/IRT)

This study found that six areas of volunteer leadership development are important to volunteers and 4-H agents. The areas are (1) recruiting, (2) training, (3) motivation, (4) recognition, (5) retention, and (6) supervision. (JOW)

The advantages, problems and innovative approaches characterizing student volunteer activities at 2-year colleges are discussed. (RN)

Discusses the need for training of volunteer tutors used in literacy programs and describes a training program consisting of four workshops. (CHC)

A survey of volunteers, offenders, and prison personnel in a volunteer mentoring program in Oklahoma prisons uncovered problems caused by inadequate mentor training due to lack of resources. Lack of funds forces correctional agencies to use volunteers, but it also prevents them from using them effectively. (SK)

Focus groups were conducted with 32 Australian local government officials and interviews held with 18 administrators responsible for sports and recreation. They recognized the importance of training for volunteer sports administrators and believed local government's role included identifying local needs and facilitating training. (Contains 20…