Service-Learning Resources for Faculty

What is Service Learning?

Service learning is an experiential teaching method that combines community service with academic instruction as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking and civic engagement. Service learning involves students in intentionally designed projects in collaboration with community partners. Projects address specific partner needs while developing student academic skills, professionalism, and a sense of civic responsibility. (Source: adapted from Campus Compact National Center for Community Colleges; adopted by Champlain College Faculty Senate, Spring 2004; updated and approved by Curriculum Committee, Fall 2017.) 

Service learning at Champlain generally addresses one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

How to include Service Learning in your courses:

1. Prepare: includes setting objectives for skills to be learned or issues to consider, and planning projects that promote learning and getting work done. Important to consider: what level course are you teaching? Scale your project appropriately.
   
   See a great overview in Appendix A of Howe, C. W., Coleman, K., Hamshaw, K., & Westdijk, K. (2014) Student Development and Service-Learning: A Three-Phased Model for Course Design. The International Journal of Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement. 2(1): 44-62.

2. Perform meaningful service linked with course content.

3. Together with your students, analyze the experience and draw lessons, through discussion and reflection. See reflection resources here.

4. Let us know about what you've done by submitting this form.

Additional Champlain Resources

• Faculty Fellows for Service Learning. This program offers faculty from a range of disciplines the opportunity to explore the high-impact practice of service learning for their own teaching. See more details here. 

• Introduction to Service-Learning - slide deck

• Potential Service-Learning Projects - spreadsheet with two tabs: 1) campus-based projects and 2) community based projects. Many of our community partners are willing to create or adapt a project to create a mutually beneficial project. Also see this Google Map for Burlington-area businesses & organizations. 

• Champlain College Faculty Service Award - This annual award recognizes the outstanding use of service-learning pedagogy in a Champlain College course.See nomination form & deadline here. 

2021 Winner: Faith Yacubian, EHS Division

2020 Winner: John Stroup, EHS Division

2019 Winner: Kirstin Novotny, Core Division

2018 Winner: Duane Dunston, ITS Division

• Transportation - info on buses, vans, etc. that may be useful when travel is necessary
  
  

External Professional Development Opportunities & Resources

• Campus Compact (National) - also hosts annual conferences and workshops

• Community Works Institute on Place-Based Service-Learning and Sustainability - offered in Burlington each summer

• International Association for Research on Service Learning & Community Engagement

• Middlebury's Center for Social Entrepreneurship - Recommended Resources page - also hosts a summer institute

• Teaching Civic Engagement Across the Disciplines - free ebook and website
  
  

Journals

• Community Works Journal

• Journal of Community Engagement & Scholarship

• Journal of Higher Education Outreach & Engagement

• International Journal of Research on Service Learning & Community Engagement

• International Undergraduate Journal for Service Learning, Leadership, and Social Change

• Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning

• Partnerships: A Journal of Service Learning & Community Engagement