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Dear Students,
Project Pericles 
Project Pericles at Elon University was initiated in 2002 when Elon became one of 10 universities to accept a challenge from the Eugene Lang Foundation to provide a learning experience that would “instill in students an abiding sense of social responsibility and civic concern.”
Elon’s Project Pericles goes beyond just student engagement. The university has committed to raising the level of civic engagement and social responsibility of the entire university community. Elon University has built a reputation as a national model of engaged learning; connecting knowledge and experience in and out of the classroom. One of Elon’s primary missions is to prepare students “To be global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.”
Project Pericles at Elon University is comprised of four components:
The Class of 2006 chose awareness of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Africa, as their project. The Class of 2007 is focusing on malnutrition in Honduras. The class of 2008 is working to reduce the impact of poverty in Chiapas, Mexico.
Brian Baute
Recent changes to the Service Sabbatical program include the implementation of “rolling” applications and the introduction of more flexible time frames for the projects.
Course Enhancement Grants
A one-time round of $1,000 grants were awarded to around 40 University professors to enhance classes such as Aboriginal Australia, a study-abroad course which focused on building a playground in Australia; Writing and Information Gathering, a journalism course that helped students better understand diverse communities; Writing About Poverty, which explored lower income families and ways to help them; and Advanced Projects in Ceramics, which benefited a local charity. Currently, there are five faculty who are working with Pericles in a second round of grants that encourage redesigning existing classes with the goal of adding a significant civic engagement component. |
Contact information:
Tom Arcaro, Director |
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The Periclean Scholars Program is the centerpiece of Project Pericles at Elon University. Students chosen for this program take part in a series of courses (one per school year), culminating in a class project of global or local social change. Each cohort defines its own project.
Service Sabbaticals allow Elon University employees to take part in Project Pericles and contribute to the community in a significant way. Employees, either full-time faculty or staff, can apply to be relieved of their university duties for up to one month in order to work for a community organization or complete a project. Past projects have included repair work to a community church, a bike ride across America to raise money for a children’s advocacy organization, researching the possibility of an internship program between area schools and a Christian ministry, and working with a local school system to produce and archive instructional videos.
Tammy Hayes-Hill a program assistant in Residence Life, assisted the Occaneechi tribe this summer during its annual Pow-Wow, considered the group's largest yearly fundraiser.Hayes-Hill learned more about her own culture and the history of her Occaneechi background when she spent one month helping her tribe during a crucial time of year – the 24th Annual Pow-Wow, when the Occaneechi tribe needs as many people to help as possible. And not just to process meat. The Pow-Wow brings people together to celebrate their culture and heritage, Hayes-Hill said. Dancers arrive from around the region and members of the community come to see and buy tribal arts and crafts and hear tribal updates. The June event is the tribe’s main fundraiser and an opportunity for children to learn about their tribe’s traditions. Hayes-Hill wrote speeches for the tribal chair and gathered updates on the tribal calendar to be announced at the Pow-Wow. She also set up displays and advertisements, and assisted volunteers. Beyond the Pow-Wow, she had administrative duties ranging from taking inventory of cookbooks to working with the tribal roll. She coordinated with the Web manager to update the tribe’s Web site and answered phones, giving directions and offering information about the Pow-Wow. “It’s amazing to see how busy we are in [the office],” Hayes-Hill said. “Some people came in just asking about the tribe and who [the Occaneechi] are and you want to take time with them and reach out to them.” Hayes-Hill said she enjoyed talking with traditionalists who taught her about the tribe’s history and involvement with the larger Indian community. Writing for the tribal newsletter about those journeys and different projects was the most touching opportunity her sabbatical offered. "I don't dance, I don't have my regalia, but once I got to talk to them, that inspired me to learn more," Hill-Hayes said. The Occaneechi is an urban tribe; its 800-plus registered members are not concentrated on a reservation. Tribal members can be found in Virginia, though their main concentration is in Orange and Alamance counties in North Carolina. Elon has a good history with the Occaneechi tribe, Hayes-Hill said. Anthropology classes go out to plant trees and Ray Johnson, an assistant professor of communications, filmed a documentary about the tribe several years ago. The sabbatical persuaded Hayes-Hill to take a larger role in her tribe. She said she would like to run for treasurer in the next tribal elections. Hayes-Hill said she has always been impressed when faculty members take sabbaticals to conduct research, but to be offered the opportunity for her personal pursuits has been wonderful. “Just to know that you're in an environment that is so supportive of faculty and staff research and service opportunities is wonderful,” she said. “In the Native American community, a lot of people just don't understand what goes into keeping things going and keeping heritage alive.” - Ashley Barnas '10 
Family Night at the Park, hosted by 
The Course Enhancement Grants add another dimension to the Project Pericles program, allowing the University to tap the creativity and energy of as many faculty members as possible.
