Service Learning

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Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.

(From Fayetteville State University)

Service-learning . . .

  • attempts to create positive change in both service recipients (community partners) and providers (students).
  • adapts to individual disciplines, courses, and assignments.
  • requires students to reflect on how their service contributes to their understanding of course content.
  • contributes to Xavier's social justice mission.
  • is deeply needed in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Pedagogical Assistance

Learn to design your course or assignment around community service.

If you are interested in assistance with implementing service-learning projects into your existing courses, designing new courses around service-learning, assessing and revising current service-learning projects, or designing research projects around your service-learning, please contact Dr. Lisa Schulte, CAT+FD's Faculty-in-Residence for service learning. Send a message or call campus ext. 7512

Resources and Information

In May of 2015, Jeremy Tuman (XULA) traveled to Boone, NC, to Appalachian State University, to meet with noted service-learning writer, teacher, and researcher Dr. Bob Bringle. During the meeting, Dr. Bringle gave his thoughts on the current state of service-learning at Xavier, and outlined thoughts on how to go about strengthening and improving service-learning, not just at Xavier, but at any university. His main message was that service-learning is unique in its ability to achieve certain student outcomes related to civic engagement and social responsibility, and that if adequately presented, valued, and incorporated in the culture of an institution, will appeal to students, faculty, and administration for this unique ability.

Jeremy's notes from the visit are included here, followed by several articles co-authored by Dr. Bringle.