Service Learning

FACULTY and SERVICE LEARNING

Service Learning is most frequently understood as an instructional strategy in which an optional or required service activity is included as part of academic coursework. Essentially, the goal of Service Learning is reciprocal growth for everyone involved in the service activity: the students, the community members with whom they interact, the Community Partner agencies, and the class. Service Learning provides students with an opportunity to apply course concepts to a real-life experience that meets a community need, and then to use that service experience to better understand what they are learning in class.

The types of activities associated with a Service Learning component can range from weekly service participation at the same agency to a few project-based service activities at different sites. Whatever your needs are, our office can assist you in identifying or developing service activities which support your learning objectives. In addition, our office will assist your students in registering for their service activity, in providing orientation to their service and transportation to and from most service sites, and tracking their service hours.

Service Learning is practiced at over 1,000 universities and by over two million college students nationwide, and reflects national trends both in higher education (which seeks to increase civic engagement among college students) and in employers (who are increasingly looking for graduates with real-world experience).

If you would like to learn more about service learning, you might want to explore the Faculty FAQS section of our website, or call our Interim Director, Dr. Peggy Finucane, at 216.397.1608. If you are interested in including a service learning component in a course, simply click on the "Getting Started" link at the left, or call our office at 216.397.4698. We'd be happy to speak with you!