What is Service Learning?

What is service-learning?
"Service learning is a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic standards to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities."
National Commission on Service Learning

What are the principles of service-learning used at CSS?

• Service-learning is a partnership between the college and the community based on shared goals.
• Partnerships should be developed with agencies to address social justice issues as well as to meet personal needs.
• A continuum of opportunities- from charitable volunteering to campaigns for social change- should be available for students. See the Social Change Wheel from Minnesota Campus Compact ATTACH.
• Service-learning should engage students in meaningful work to meet real community needs.
• Supervision of students should be provided by the community partner.
• Students should receive feedback on their work as volunteers.
• Service-learning activities should be designed to meet class objectives.
• Students should be reflecting on their experiences in the classroom. 
• This reflection should include systemic thinking about social problems as well as personal learning and reactions.
• Students should be exposed to new and varied points of view about issues.
• Students should develop skills to feel empowered to address other civic issues.
• Community agencies should be included in evaluation of the partnership.
• Long term relationships are more beneficial to both parties and allow opportunities for improvement.