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 responsibilityand citizenship skills.
- Increases commitment to service.
- Improves relationships with faculty and the educational 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 award.
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. Also adapted from: Campus Compact. Introduction to Service-Learning Toolkit.
For complete report findings on the effects of service-learning, please click here.
Last Modified: 07/08/2010