Benefits of Service-Learning
For Students
- Enhances complex understanding, problem analysis, critical thinking and cognitive development
- Broadens sense of personal efficacy, personal identity, and moral development
- Improves awareness of societal issues as they relate to academic areas of interest
- Develops leadership and communication skills
- Reduces stereotypes and facilitates cultural and racial understanding
- Develops sense of social responsibility and citizenship skills
- Increases commitment to service
- Improves relationships with faculty and institution
- Allows the energy and enthusiasm of college students to contribute to meeting the growing needs of the community
For Faculty
- Increases satisfaction with quality of student learning
- Enriches teaching and learning
- Promotes commitment to research
- Creates new areas of research and scholarship
- Increases opportunities for professional recognition and reward
For the University
- Enriches teaching and learning
- Improves student retention
- Builds reciprocal partnerships with the community
For the Community
- Enhances university relations
- Creates potential for additional partnerships and collaboration with the campus
- Provides substantial human resources to meet educational, human, safety, and environmental needs of local communities
Adapted from: Almonte Paul, Dorell, Haffline et.al. Service Learning at Salt Lake Community College, A Faculty Handbook and Campus Compact. Introduction to Service-Learning Toolkit.
For complete report findings on the effects of service-learning, please go to http://www.compact.org/resources/downloads/aag.pdf.