What is Service Learning?

Service-Learning links academic courses and volunteerism to benefit both students and community. Service-Learning builds relationships between academic theory and “real-world” application, fosters a sense of civic responsibility, and kindles an interest in lifelong learning. Knowledge, personal growth, and skills developed through service-learning and civic engagement are assessed as learning outcomes and transfer to your future civic and professional life.

Benefits of Service

• Student Service is viewed favorably by employers and transfer institutions.
• Strengthens Community Partnerships: Service-learning brings students into the community, and the community into schools. In this way, students develop a sense of belonging and responsibility, and communities view youth as valuable assets.
• Enhances Academic Achievement: When explicitly tied to academic standards and learning objectives, service-learning positively
  impacts student outcomes on measures of academic achievements. Service learning and civic engagement are viewed favorably by transfer institutions and employers.
• Increases Student Engagement: Service-learning engages students by helping them make critical connections between classroom lessons and real-world application.
• Improves Social Behavior: Service-learning participants are less likely to engage in risky behavior, and more likely to build social skills like communication, teamwork, and problem solving.
• Builds Civic Skills: By giving students the responsibility to identify and meet pressing needs, service-learning builds civic skills and commitment in young people that last a lifetime.