Center for Teaching, Learning & Academic Support
      Advancing Teaching, Research, and Creative Endeavors

Benefits of Service Learning

Students

• Enriches students learning of course material and "brings books to life and life to books."

• Engages students in active learning that demonstrates the relevance and importance of academic work for their life experience and career choices.

• Increases awareness of current societal issues as they relate to academic areas of interest.

• Broadens perspectives of diversity issues and enhances critical thinking skills.

• Improves interpersonal skis that are increasingly viewed as important skills in achieving success in professional and personal spheres.

• Develops civic responsibility through active community involvement.

Community

• Provides substantial human resources to meet educational, human, safety, and environmental needs of local communities.

• Allows the energy and enthusiasm of college students to contribute to meeting needs.

• Fosters an ethic of service and civic participation in students who will be tomorrow's volunteers and civic leaders.

• Creates potential for additional partnerships and collaboration with the campus.

Institutional Benefits

• Enriches and enlivens teaching and learning.

• Builds reciprocal partnerships with the local community.

• Creates new areas for research and scholarship, and increases opportunities for professional recognition and reward.

• Extends campus resources into the community and reinforces the value of the scholarship of engagement.

• Supports institutional mission.