Service-Learning
Course Work + Community Service + Critical Reflection = Service-Learning
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with course work and critical reflection to enrich the learning experience, foster social responsibility and civic engagement, and strengthen communities. The community service component may address issues related to education, public health, the environment, economic opportunity, disaster preparedness, or other human/social needs.
BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS: Service-learning has many benefits for students as well as the community. For example, service-learning extends learning beyond the classroom while increasing your ability to apply what you learn in the classroom to real-life situations. Students often report that service-learning facilitates a deeper understanding of course content; improves their critical-thinking, communication, and leadership skills; and deepens their appreciation of diversity. Moreover, service-learning contributes to your résumé and portfolio, and it can help you clarify your professional goals and prepare for your career.
Most service-learning courses carry a special designation and notation in the Course Schedule. The notation indicates the deep integration of thoughtfully organized community service into the curriculum and high standards of service-learning practice. The official transcripts for students who successfully complete designated service-learning courses have the following note: “This course met the criteria for the service-learning designation, requiring applied learning, student engagement with the community, and critical reflection.”