Service Learning Commons^™

Back To The Future: Reflecting On The Slce Future Directions Project, Lori E. Kniffin Ph.D., Sarah E. Stanlick, Patti H. Clayton

Leadership Faculty Publications

This paper reflects on the Service-Learning and Community Engagement (SLCE) Future Directions Project (FDP), an initiative launched in 2015 to engage with the 20th anniversary of Edward Zlotkowski's pivotal 1995 article, "Does service-learning have a future?" to stimulate a broader, co-creative conversation about the future of SLCE. The FDP ultimately resulted in 29 thought pieces, co-written by 57 authors and published in the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning (MJCSL) between 2015 and 2017. This current reflection, undertaken in 2025, synthesized survey responses from FDP authors and SLCE practitioners to assess the project's impact and re-examine future directions amidst evolving …

Student Reflections On Service‐Learning: Cognitive, Affective, And Behavioral Lessons, Maria L. Claver, Lisa A. Lares, Lauren Gelgur

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Service-learning is an educational experience that allows students meaningful interaction with older adults. Students in a gerontology course completed service-learning and recorded their experiences in weekly journals. This study explored student-reported reflections, which indicated cognitive, affective, and behavioral lessons. Future research should include the perspectives of faculty members, agencies, and older adults; long-term influences of service; and approaches to facilitating service-learning for hybrid and online courses.

Learning Mathematics: A Community Collaboration, Sayonita Ghosh Hajra

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study provides a “snapshot” of a service-learning activity in an elementary school with fu-ture elementary teachers in a southern public university in a mathematics content course on arithmetic in constructing equivalent fractions by comprehending the importance of the whole in fractions. This study also demonstrates how a service-learning activity can be incorporated into a mathematics content course to give a meaningful interpretation of abstract mathematics to future elementary teachers. It provided the future teachers a platform to work with children to connect a fun-filled activity with one of the most difficult concepts in elementary mathematics—fractions. Findings of the activity …

Social Action, Service Learning, And Youth Development, Joan Arches

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

University service-learning students worked with middle school youth in a social change project addressing positive youth development and civic engagement. Based on their knowledge of positive youth development theory and British Social Action, they facilitated a weekly group in which the youth identified combatting oppression by teachers (adultism) for their project. They discussed the problem, designed surveys, analyzed the data, and presented their findings. The youth demonstrated individual competencies and connected with adults while they learned to work collectively in a community change project.

Bridging The Divide: From Service To Public Work, Paul N. Markham

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

An important aspect of public higher education is the development of active citizens. Students should leave our institutions not only with an appreciation for the value of community service, but also having the vital knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be public problem solvers. This article is a reflection on one professor’s experience of teaching students for active citizenship by moving from a service mindset to an emphasis on public work. This account emphasizes public work as a critical pedagogy for a potential next phase of civic engagement in higher education, which focuses on the development of student civic agency in …

Enhancing Undergraduate Education Through Social Innovation Projects: The Experience Of A Young University In Singapore, Intan Azura Mokhtar, Yong Lim Foo

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this paper, social innovation is used as a catch-all phrase for projects and initiatives by higher education institutions (HEIs) related to community engagement, community-based learning, and service-learning. This paper explores the concept and application of social innovation in higher education, followed by a case study of implementing social innovation projects in a young, applied learning university in Singapore, a discussion of lessons learned, and plans for the near future in enhancing and strengthening its implementation.

Profile Interview With Dr. Nadine Dolby, Ian Heinig, Nikhil Gloyeske

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

No abstract provided.

Advanced Spanish Conversation And The Non-Traditional Student: A Case Study For Implementing Community-Based Learning At The Urban University, Graham Stefan Ignizio

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article discusses the unique situation of teaching an upper-level, undergraduate Spanish conversation course with a service-learning component at a large, public, urban university. With the help of service-learning literature and anonymous pre- and post-surveys, this study aims to offer some qualitative observations and advice on community-based learning for the non-traditional student. Even with the added effort in curriculum development and the imperfections of language instruction for non-traditional students, this article concludes that the implementation of service learning at the urban university can be a successful experience.

Enhancing Service-Learning Experiences For International Students: An Auto-Ethnography And A Dialogue, Li Mao, Laura Servage, Donna Chovanec

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This auto-ethnographic study recounts the experiences of an international doctoral student in a service-learning (SL) placement. The narrative discusses the cultural and linguistic barriers that the student faced, both in the classroom and in her SL field placement. The authors use the student’s secondary sources as well as a series of reflective dialogues as data toward an analysis of the learning needs of linguistic and cultural minorities in service-learning—an as of yet underexplored area of research in service-learning pedagogy.

Faculty Feel It Too: The Emotions Of Teaching Through Service‐Learning, Carrie W. Lecrom, Lynn Pelco, Jill W. Lassiter

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

The authors used Coles’ (1993) framework of emotional satisfactions and hazards to examine the experiences of faculty members teaching service-learning classes for the first time. Seven faculty from two institutions completed monthly reflections and focus groups for one year. Qualitative analysis indicated that faculty experienced several of Coles’ emotional satisfactions and hazards, were prone to emotional contagion, and depended on colleague mentoring to navigate the experiences of using service-learning pedagogy for the first time.

Staying Engaged While Staying Home?: Service-Learning, Writing, And Covid-19, Christopher Iverson

The SUNY Journal of the Scholarship of Engagement: JoSE

As an approach to writing instruction that has traditionally required students to engage in in-person community projects, service-learning has also traditionally involved risks. For example, students engaging in service-learning without proper support often do not approach community partners with the appropriate respect, and when university stakeholders fail to make clear what their side can offer in a partnership, they can leave community partners in the lurch when the semester ends and students finish their community-engaged coursework. These risks can be mitigated through education and reflection for instructors and students alike. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing social distancing orders, however, left …

Community Pet Food Drive And Pet Food Pantry, Katie M. Sipe

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project entailed a community pet food drive held at the Star Albertsons where all the donations were donated to the local food bank in Star. I also was able to create a place for a permanent barrel located in front of the local Star Outreach Food Bank for pet food only donations.

The Impact Of Service-Learning On General Chemistry Ii Students At The University Of Nebraska At Omaha, Kayla Rud

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Service-learning has been shown to enhance academic and leadership skills while promoting community engagement and exposing students to different career opportunities (Esson et al., 2005). While the benefits of service-learning courses are clear, few STEM courses include service-learning components (Esson et al., 2005). Here, students in a totally online 2nd semester UNO chemistry course completed a service-learning project where they remotely led a live, inquiry-based STEM activity for Girl Scouts. To quantify the impact of service-learning on professional development, future career plans, and future volunteerism, a series of pre and post surveys were administered. Paired-sample t-tests revealed a statistically significant …

Vcu Service-Learning Impact Measure (Slim) Report, 2020-2021, Katie Elliott, Jackie Stephens

The VCU Service-Learning Office distributes the Service-Learning Impact Measure (SLIM) at the end of every semester to evaluate the impact of service-learning classes on student learning. Results are used to guide program improvements that enhance the quality of service-learning courses and outcomes for students, faculty, and partners.

Vcu Service-Learning Impact Measure (Slim) Report, 2020-2021, Katie Elliott, Jackie Stephens

Division of Community Engagement Resources

The VCU Service-Learning Office distributes the Service-Learning Impact Measure (SLIM) at the end of every semester to evaluate the impact of service-learning classes on student learning. Results are used to guide program improvements that enhance the quality of service-learning courses and outcomes for students, faculty, and partners. This report covers the 2020-2021 academic years and highlights assessment focus areas including: career readiness, academic learning, civic learning identity development, diversity and inclusion, and the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Service-Learning Community Partner Impact Assessment Report, 2021, Rebecca Hoppe, Katie Elliott, Lynn E. Pelco

Division of Community Engagement Resources

In 2021, the Service-Learning Office at VCU conducted an assessment of the impact of service-learning on community partner organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The assessment aimed to collect actionable feedback to inform and improve upon current service-learning course practices. Partners (N = 18) were prompted with questions to assess the following topics: operational capacity, economic functioning, social environment, and partnership quality, both prior to and in concurrent with the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative findings suggested an overall improvement in scores from the 2017 assessment. Qualitative findings indicated the importance of relationships, concluding that adaptation, communication, and involvement were key factors …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Service-Learning In Lower- & Upper-Division Psychology Courses, Michael J. Figuccio

The SUNY Journal of the Scholarship of Engagement: JoSE

Service-learning is a pedagogical technique in which students apply course content to meet a community need. Students are also provided with an opportunity for reflection which results in an array of academic, psychological, and social benefits. This study will highlight the benefits students derive from participating in service-learning exercises in lower and upper division psychology courses. Empirical data suggest that service-learning activities benefit students in both lower and upper division psychology courses; however, students in upper division courses may obtain enhanced benefits. It is recommended to incorporate service-learning experiences throughout the curriculum in both lower and upper division courses in …

Service-Learning In The Covid19 Era: Learning In The Midst Of Crisis, Lauren Grenier, Elizabeth Robinson, Debra A. Harkins

Pedagogy and the Human Sciences

No abstract provided.

Envisioning Critical Social Entrepreneurship Education: Possibilities, Questions, And Guiding Commitments, Mark Congdon Jr., Liliana Herakova

Communication, Media & The Arts Faculty Publications

Higher education institutions continue to be increasingly interested in examining how social entrepreneurship and community engaged approaches to education can work together. In light of the recent growth and interest in such programs, scholars and educators have called for attention to specific considerations when developing SE and community-based education, which can be summed up in three areas - pedagogy, relationships, and impact. The present essay builds on such propositions, and calls for a critically-orientated approach to SE, grounded in community engagement, collaborative dialogue among diverse voices, and a commitment to transforming oppressive structures

Managing Students As Volunteers: Community Organizations’ Perspectives Of Service-Learning Placements, Bradley Wolfe

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This qualitative study examines how students are managed as volunteers in community organizations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven professionals in Southern Minnesota who oversee student-volunteers as a part of their position. The research covers the roles of student-volunteers in community organizations, the community benefits of student labor, and the management models used for supervising students. The results demonstrate different models used to manage students as volunteer, which vary by the depth of the volunteer commitment. Under all models, the sample of participants attested to an overall benefit of students as volunteers in their respective organizations.

The Intersection Of Education And Service: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathan Bryant

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of 19 former high school service participants. This study explored the perspectives and opinions of each participant regarding the quality aspects of their service experiences and the impact of their service on college, career, and life trajectory. Additionally, participants discussed their motivation to serve initially and over time. This study explored the history of service in America, discussed the impacts of service, and examined the Vroom Theory of Motivation. In-depth focus group interviews were conducted with 19 high school graduates to gain their perspectives on their service experiences. These interviews were transcribed to analyze …

Vcu Service-Learning Impact Measure (Slim) Report, 2018-2019, Tamanna Sohal, Katie Elliott

Division of Community Engagement Resources

The VCU Service-Learning Office distributes the Service-Learning Impact Measure (SLIM) at the end of every semester to evaluate the impact of service-learning classes on student learning. Results are used to guide program improvements that enhance the quality of service-learning courses and outcomes for students, faculty, and partners.

Community Initiatives Multiply University Partnerships, Christopher Lafontaine

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Christopher LaFontaine is a senior studying psychology and sociology at Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW). He has concentrated on community engagement and service learning as areas of focus for the past year. He plans to pursue a career in applied sociology and he has been involved with applied research among vulnerable populations. Christopher has worked with homeless veterans in Fort Wayne and has studied health conditions in a rural county that ranks low in health outcomes. In this article, he describes his experience with service-learning partnerships between community organizations and an institution of higher education.

The Unheard Stories Of Service-Learners: An Exploratory Study Of The Assumptions Of Race, Identity, And Privilege Within The Service-Learning Experience, J. Faith Krefft

Community Engagement Student Work

Service-learning has become a powerful pedagogical practice in Higher Education. Yet many of its practices have been premised on the idea that participants are white and serving a community unlike their own. Research suggests that the perspectives and identities of students of a diverse background participating in service-learning experiences may be unheard and/or misunderstood. Through a qualitative exploratory study, this study examined the perspective of nonwhite students. Four students from two higher education institutions selected to participate in a set of longitudinal, semi-structured, in-depth interviews in order to better understand their perspectives and experiences in their service-learning field site. Service-learning …

Critical Social Justice Theory In Action: A Practitioner Inquiry Into The Service-Learning Capstone Experience, Julie A. Jaynes

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

Service-learning pedagogy can be found in K-12 schools and higher education classrooms across the country. Those programs and courses exist on a complex spectrum from charity to social justice; research presented here documents my efforts as a service-learning teacher to better align the program’s senior capstone class to the teachings from critical social justice theory. I used a practitioner inquiry approach to address the problem of an epistemology in the research process that recreated systems of oppression by excluding the knowledge and voices of the minoritized groups who are impacted by the issues being researched. My inquiry centers my students’ …

Introducing Critical Pedagogies, Deepening Service-Learning Practices, Kathryn J. Kozak

Pedagogy and the Human Sciences

Book review of Critical Perspectives on Service-Learning in Higher Education by Susan J. Deeley. (2015). London, England: Palgrave Macmillan.

In Conversation With Seth Pollack, Seth Pollack, Marshall Welch

Engaging Pedagogies in Catholic Higher Education (EPiCHE)

In November 2016, EPiCHE Editor Marshall J. Welch sat down with service-learning scholar and practitioner Seth Pollack. They explored how the spiritual and religious dimensions of Seth’s life have influenced his personal passions and academic career.

Seth Pollack is Professor of Service Learning, and the founding faculty director of the Service Learning Institute at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). For the past 17 years, Seth has provided overall leadership for the Service Learning Institute at CSUMB. In 2005, he received the Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service Learning, recognized as the nation’s outstanding faculty in the field of community …

Walking Among The Haitians: Cultural Experiences In Haiti, Chris Gonzales, Brendan Schneider, Brian Wagler

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Chris Gonzales is a senior in animal sciences and hails from Terre Haute, Indiana. Brendan Schneider is a senior in electrical engineering, originally from Kohler, Wisconsin. Brian Wagler is a junior in agribusiness management from Milroy, Indiana. In this article, they describe their journey and cultural experiences in Haiti and how they worked to exchange agricultural information with the local people to further develop agriculture in Haiti in addition to developing their own understanding of agriculture.

Adaptive Skiing: A Culture Of Its Own, Katelynn Malecha

Service-Learning

Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Ski & Snowboard Program provides me challenges and a life-long impact. Every winter for the past five years I have been volunteering for this organization and every year I learn something new about myself and others. By reflecting upon my experiences, I am expanding more about the importance of volunteering, leadership and global citizenship.

Building Stronger Communities: The Reciprocity Between University, Student, And Community Through Service-Learning, Jennifer Ellen Goff

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

This three-paper format dissertation explored the impact of service-learning on three key constituents: the university, university students conducting the service, and the community receiving the service. Paper one quantitatively explored the impact of service-learning on university students’ perspective through the use of end of year service-learning course evaluations. Students self-reported their outcomes due to participation as it related to professional skills, communication skills, academic learning, values clarification, citizenship skills, and quality indicators of their service-learning program. Paper one also explored if there was a difference between two types of service, direct (e.g., participate directly with the community) and indirect (e.g., …