Community Service Learning

Service Learning is a national movement utilized in a number of colleges and universities in the United States. It is the process of integrating volunteer community service with active guided reflection which enhances student understanding of course material. The distinguishing characteristic of service learning is its twofold emphasis on both enriching student learning and revitalizing the community. To accomplish this, effective service learning initiatives involve students in:

• Understanding the connections between textbook and experiential knowledge;
• Enhancing students’ self-esteem through meaningful contributions to the community;
• Engaging students in decision making, critical thinking, and application of learned skills;
• Providing human resources to meet the educational, human, safety and environmental needs of the community;
• Creating a spirit of civic responsibility and leadership.

The pedagogy of service learning represents a substantial change from the traditional curriculum and promotes education as a “process of living” which encourages the processing of information, as well as its accumulation. This constant restructuring of information exemplifies the continuity and reality that exists between life experience and knowledge. Community Service Learning courses are coordinated by Julie Gomez in the Office of Civic Engagement as part of the Career Development Center located in the Turley Student Services Center.