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Benefits of Service-Learning
(The following ideas are used with permission from the Service-Learning Faculty Manual of Colorado State University.)
Students benefit through:
- Hands-on experience and knowledge that increases relevance of academic skills
- Interaction with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences
- Valuable and competitive experiences to enhance their resumes
- Opportunities for meaningful involvement with the local community
- Increased civic responsibility
“It brings books to life and life to books”
- Invigoration of teaching methods
- Increased student contact through greater emphasis on student-centered instruction
- Connecting the community with curriculum and becoming more aware of current societal issues as they relate to academic areas of interest
“It changes faculty role from the expert on top to the expert on tap.”
Community benefits through:
- Access to university resources
- Positive relationships with the university
- Awareness-building of community issues, agencies, and constituents
- Opportunities for contributing to the educational process
- Short and long-term solutions to pressing community needs
“It shifts from community to laboratory to community as classroom.”
University benefits through:
- Enhanced teaching and outreach activities
- Faculty and student engagement in community issues
- Opportunities to extend university knowledge and resources
- Positive community relationships
- Increased development and preparation of university graduates
“It serves to light the fire rather than fill the bucket.”
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