Bryant University’s “Service Learning” major in its Sociology Department has a successful influence on a Rhode Island non profit, and its management level employees. Our community engagement and service learning here at Bryant: SOCIOLOGY of WORK  course:Prepares students for service learning by introducing them to key tools for community engagement, including skills and strategies for working with community partners and critical reflection for deeper understanding and personal growth. Framed within the perspective of sociology. The course includes a service learning field experience and compliments any area of University study.   This service learning course required significant out of class community service done in partnership with a community agency. (The Homestead Group) In this way our classroom expands into the community and we call upon our experiences in mentoring, consulting, and/or participation in other service settings to inform our understanding of the sociological ideas presented in the course.   Due to recent budget cuts, many organizations in R.I. have been forced to downsize staff, reallocate resources and even completely restructure in some cases. This presented a problem that spread much wider than operational budgets and simply could not be rectified by number crunching. One R.I. organization in particular, The Homestead Group, found that the separation of the organization into individual home based sites; as a result of the state budget cuts, led to a situation where there was no collective mindset or mission to motivate employees and staff members. It transformed into a culture of fear and low morale. As a result employees had negative attitudes and were uncooperative toward the necessary changes which had to be implemented. The Homestead group is a statewide leader among those supporting persons with developmental disabilities. Individuals and families who engage with them need to experience a richness in their lives that is built upon dignity and respect. The people they support become engaged in community life through a network of authentic relationships.   They recognize the importance of their staff and the contributions they make in the lives of their program participants. They are committed to offering quality education, training, and advancement opportunities for their staff that will enhance their professional growth and development, along with a work environment that expresses both dignity and respect.   The Homestead Group had attempted virtually everything to get the organization back on track, but they had little or no success. The final straw came when they brought in Jane Arsenault, a well-known statistician to conduct a survey and examination of employee satisfaction and cohesiveness within the organization. The results were literally the worst that she had ever encountered. It was clear that the Homestead Group needed a solution and Bryant University Sociology of Work students were ready for the challenge.   Our service learning students, Katie Leary, Cary Quinn, Sam Schultz, Daniel Finger, Erica Spiegel, & Robert Taylor mastered one of the required readings for the course, Steven Covey’s , “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, and applied the “habits” into a series of seminars/workshops for upper level managers and supervisors at the Homestead Group.    Each habit was designed into a two hour presentation that incorporated real life stories, hands on activities, role plays and open discussions amongst participants. The seminar was conducted over a seven week period in the summer of 2008, allowing the participants to truly grasp the concepts and incorporate the habits into their work environment. Every habit built upon the next allowing for a gradual progression of understanding and growth. Between each session participants were asked to apply the ideas, practices and concepts within their own lives. After “living” the habits the participants discussed how these principles were making positive differences within their lives, and work environments. The goal of these seminars was to re-socialize the employees in the organization, in order to create a different culture for the nonprofit.  Dr Robert Carl, the Chief Operating Officer sent a letter stating that the seminar was a resounding success. Dr Carl writes,” As you were aware, significant state budget cuts this year forced THG to curtail or eliminate certain programs as well as instituting staff reductions. Such changes do not come easy, either for staff or the people we support. Your seminar, based on the” Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” could not have come at a better time to help us manage these changes”.