The benefits of service-learning go beyond the student. By adding a service-learning component to a course, professors enhance student-learning and facilitate a deeper understanding of course content, challenging students to ask the tough questions and think critically. An active learning environment also provides opportunities for expanded instructional approaches and mentoring.
Additionally, service-learning can serve as the catalyst for research and scholarly work.
Getting Started
Faculty interested in integrating service-learning into courses can email the office for assistance with:
- Scheduling a class presentation from staff about service-learning
- Connecting to community partners that have service-learning opportunities for students
- Accessing service-learning forms and course syllabi resources
- Summarizing service-learning data for each term
Tracking Student Service-Learning
The Office of Civic Engagement tracks how often, where and who is involved in the service-learning partnership between FSCJ and the broader community. The Office of Civic Engagement staff document students’ involvement to assist them in fulfilling course requirements and provide students with ethics commitments that act as guidelines for professional conduct while they represent FSCJ in the community.
Please have students complete the Ethics and Commitments Agreement before they begin civic engagement efforts in the community. As a recommended practice, you can direct students to use FSCJ Serves to verify service-learning for class assignments and to track and log service-learning hours.
Resources
Faculty are encouraged to visit the Office of Civic Engagement LibGuide to explore resources for service-learning and civic engagement.