In this retrospective account of their scholarly work over the past 45 years, Alexander and Helen Astin show how the struggle to achieve greater equity in American higher education is intimately connected to issues of character development, leadership, civic responsibility, and spirituality. While shedding some light on a variety of questions…

Compared course-based service learning and generic community service through a quantitative, longitudinal look at over 22,000 students at diverse colleges and universities. Compared student outcomes related to values and beliefs, academic skills, leadership, and future plans. Of particular interest was the finding that connecting service with…

Examines the design of service learning research using psychologist-philosopher Ken Wilber's fourfold scheme. By interfacing Wilber's two dichotomies (interior versus exterior and individual versus group), researchers can access a comprehensive framework for conceptualizing the full range of service learning outcomes to study. Wilber's framework…

Offers reflections on a former president's remarks concerning service and describes what one university organization is learning about volunteerism and community service on campus. Identifies likely participants in service projects and discusses the benefits of service; ways to promote service participation, service and leadership; and service and…

This study explored the effects of service learning and community service on college undergraduates' cognitive and affective development, investigating how service enhanced learning. Longitudinal data were collected from 22,236 students attending a national sample of baccalaureate-granting institutions. Most had entered college as freshmen in fall…

Argues that the current U.S. educational system helps perpetuate some social problems; at the heart of this situation are beliefs held about the role of higher education in the larger society. Proposes that service learning as a powerful tool for colleges, both to address social problems and to strengthen experiential learning, which is central to…

A study examined the impact of the Corporation for National Service's Learn and Serve America Higher Education program, a service learning consortium, on 3,540 students from 42 participating colleges and universities, focusing on three areas of student development: civic responsibility, academic development, and life skills. Course-based service,…

Examines the impact of service participation on undergraduate student development based on data collected from 3450 students attending 42 institutions with federally funded community service programs. Results indicate that participating in service during the undergraduate years substantially enhances the students' academic development, life skill…