Service Learning Program

Students remove invasive plants from a wetland, prepare dinners at a community meal site, tutor youth at-risk in math or writing, help build a home, educate others about health risks, or advocate for abused women.  These are examples of service learning, which connects course learning objectives with hands-on volunteer service experiences.  Students are encouraged to increase and apply their knowledge and skills while addressing real community needs. 

What is Service Learning?

Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, promote critical thinking and problem solving, increase civic awareness and responsibility, and strengthen communities. 

Are service activities required in courses?

In Service Learning courses some instructors require service while others offer service as an option to another assignment.  Instructors may also offer service and reflection activities as extra credit. 

How many hours of service are required?

Instructors determine the amount of hours required.  The range may be 10 hours per course to 36 hours per credit for Cooperative Education courses.

Why Service Learning?

• I feel rewarded when students want to continue beyond the 10 hours.
• Students gain a sense of community that is part of their Lane experience.
• The class created an environment where I could interact and affect the community I live in.
• It felt good to know that the celery I planted would benefit someone who was hungry.

Faculty and students share your service learning experiences here.

Send comments to Beverly Farfan, farfanb@lanecc.edu