The purpose of this article is to highlight ways in which programs within institutions of higher education and Foster Grandparent Programs can interact to their mutual benefit. Given federal and state initiatives to develop linkages between institutions of higher education and community service sites, mutual benefits exist at the program level for…

Historically, American institutions of higher learning have embraced community service as a necessary component of students' learning experiences. Recent initiatives through the Corporation for National and Community Service emphasize the idea that civic responsibility is an important element of an adequate education at all levels of learning. In…

A teaching practicum for gerontology graduate students involves collaboration between faculty mentors and students, learning contracts, and performance strategies to ensure goals are met. Deliberate ambiguity about graduate students' role in the undergraduate classroom and the need to balance high-quality instruction and development of teaching…

Interviews with field site supervisors of service learning projects resulted in three categories of suggestions for developing service learning collaborations with community organizations: (1) level of site involvement in projects development; (2) common understanding of the conceptual basis of the project; and (3) managerial aspects (supervision,…

Basic understanding of research methods is appropriate for associate degree gerontology education. Undergraduates need introduction to issues involved in elder research. Masters' students should develop in-depth understanding of gerontology research methods; doctoral students require knowledge and ability to apply methods. (Contains 24…

A graduate gerontology program includes an evaluation research course in which students learn and apply approaches, are exposed to literature, and design an evaluation plan. Students reported benefits from application and the seminar format, gained awareness of accountability to funders, and acquired a philosophy of professionalization. (SK)