Service-Learning in Higher Education: Concepts and Practices

Our communities depend on our ability to make the connection between education and democracy. This book can breathe new life into colleges and universities that want to reinforce their public service mission. Jacoby and her colleagues tell us how to do it.
-?Dolores E. Cross, president, Chicago State University

Rooted in Dewey, building on the work of the National Society for Experiential Education and its predecessors, this comprehensive volume is useful for experienced practitioners and newcomers alike. Academic deans, department heads, and faculty members will profit mightily from its solid combination of conceptual underpinnings and specific institutional examples.
—Arthur W. Chickering, University Professor, George Mason University

There is a growing expectation, on campus and in communities, that higher education will not only sharpen its focus on student learning and development but also expand its commitment to resolve social problems and address human needs. Increasingly, colleges and universities are meeting this challenge by developing service-learning programs. This intentional linking of community service with specific learning and development outcomes is valuable to students, colleges and universities, and communities.Combining the most current theory and practice in the field of service-learning with many examples from actual campuses, Service-Learning in Higher Education is a comprehensive guide to developing high-quality service-learning experiences both in the curriculum and through student affairs programs. The book contains such useful information as? Basic principles that define a solid, viable service-learning program? Guidelines for designing programs to encourage desired outcomes? Methods to maximize the potential for service and learning in one-time or short-term experiences? Ways in which faculty can integrate service-learning into courses? A review of intensive service-learning experiences, including alternative breaks, summer experiences, and national and international service? Issues faculty need to consider in deciding how to achieve course objectives through service-learning? Assisting students to make career and lifestyle choices based on the values they acquire through service-learning.? The steps to take when starting a service-learning program? Institutionalizing service-learning to ensure it is sustainable over timeAs an added value, the book describes and provides contact information for national organizations that support service-learning and resources that are useful in helping students make postcollege service and career choices.Service-Learning in Higher Education is an invaluable resource for all campus professionals'inclu

Booknews

Jacoby (director, office of Commuter Affairs and Community Service Programs; U. of Maryland, College Park) leads 16 associates in an overview and how-to guide to linking community service with specific learning and development outcomes. In the spirit of John Dewey and other experiential learning advocates, they address: the foundations and principles of service-learning; designing diverse service-learning experiences (inter/national experiences, summer and alternative breaks); and organizational, administrative, and policy issues (e.g. integrating service-learning into the curriculum). Includes resources for college and post-college service options. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

BARBARA JACOBY is director of the office of Commuter Affairs and Community Service Programs at the University of Maryland at College Park.