Benefits of taking (and teaching) Service Learning

Students, faculty, and community members all benefit from service learning courses.

Students report that taking a service learning courses results in:

• A more engaging classroom experience
• Higher grades
• Better connections with their faculty members
• Greater satisfaction with their college experience
• Better career development
• And studies show students who take SL courses have higher retention and graduation rates

See the new report from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, titled A Crucible Moment, pages 12-13 for the studies that substantiate the above claims.

Faculty also get a number of benefits…here are a few to consider:

• Your class will be capped at 20 students
• If selected for a Faculty Development Grant (a necessary prerequisite to teach a SL course), you will receive a $2,000 peer-reviewed award (that may be beneficial to your tenure and promotion file), professional development training, and form collegial relationships across the University.
• A federal work-study student will be assigned to your course to take care of the logistical issues that arise with coordinating service work.
• You can develop relationships with people throughout the Piedmont Triad Community
• You will have access to some (minor) additional funds to support class projects and trips

Community partners benefit from the program as well. They receive:

• Knowledgeable and skilled students to aid in projects and programs
• Promotion of their agency’s mission through our students and the HPU Service Learning Program Website
• A closer connection to HPU faculty