The Office of Student Life is proud to work with faculty who have incorporated community service into their course curriculum. Commonly called “service learning,” these faculty understand the impact service can have, not only on student development, but on student learning as well.
Service Learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity are key components of service learning
—Jacoby and Associates
As a form of experiential education, service learning is both curricular and co-curricular. It is based on a pedagogical principle that learning and development only happens when reflection is designed to foster that learning and development. Structured reflection challenges and guides students in examining critical issues related to their service-learning project, helps connect students' service experience to their coursework, enhances the development of civic skills and values, and assists students in finding personal relevance in the work.