Center for Service-Learning & Civic Engagement

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn"
- Benjamin Franklin

What is service-learning?

According to the National Commission on Service-Learning, service-learning:

• Links academic content and standards
• Involves students in helping to determine and meet real, defined community needs
• Is reciprocal in nature, benefiting both the community and the service providers by combining a service experience with a learning experience
• Can be used in any subject area so long as it is appropriate to learning goal
• Works at all ages, even among young children

Service-learning is not:

• An episodic volunteer program
• An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum
• Logging a set number of community service hours in order to graduate
• Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or by school administrators
• Only for high school or college students
• One sided - benefiting only students or only the community

The distinctive element of service-learning is that it enhances the community through the service provided. Additionally, it also has powerful learning consequences for the students or others participating in providing a service. Service-learning is growing so rapidly because of its demonstrated benefits for communities, schools, students and faculty.