The current study explores the relationship between participation in college service-learning (SL) experiences, in both academic courses and co-curricular programs, and post-college civic engagement. Using data from a purposeful sample of 1,066 alumni from 30 campuses who participated in the 20th Anniversary Bonner Scholars Study, we explored the…

Developing good citizens is an historic role for higher education (Sullivan & Rosin, 2008) and the emergence of service-learning as a pedagogical strategy has heightened attention to the intentional educational objectives to be addressed in higher education. This article examines the role of service-learning in developing philanthropic values…

Retention of college students is a priority of all colleges and universities. This research investigated whether or not student enrollment in a service-learning course in the fall semester of college was related to (a) intentions to stay on that campus, based on self-reports at the end of the semester, and (b) re-enrollment the following fall on…

Preparing graduates to be active citizens is a core value of colleges and universities in the United States. Historically, higher education has had a commitment to developing the civic commitment of its graduates; yet the degree to which this commitment is endorsed and actualized varies with time and across institutions. In "College Learning for…

Although there are many manifestations of civic and community engagement, curricular engagement in general and service-learning classes in particular are core components as campuses progress beyond traditional models of engagement, such as expert-based approaches to outreach and professional service, that develop broader and deeper impact across…

Reflective activities are critical components of service learning because they connect service with course content. Methods include journals, experiential-research papers, ethical case studies, directed readings, and electronic dialogs. (SK)

Responses of 179 representatives of diverse institutions of higher education to a questionnaire on institutionalization of service learning found greater institutionalization occurred when institutions established a centralized office to coordinate activities, funded that office with university funds, located it under the chief academic office,…

Research on college students found limited support for Morton's (1995) hypothesis that students have a preference for one distinct type of service orientation (i.e., charity, project, social change). The findings did replicate previous findings that college students prefer the charity paradigm. A measure of integrity was developed and two…

John Dewey's writing is explicit concerning the moral responsibilities of education in democracy. These moral dimensions provide a framework for identifying characteristics of good undergraduate education consistent with recent reports and the pedagogy of service learning. Articulation of these characteristics supports the value of service…

Service learning practitioners must devote more resources to systematic, scientific assessment of service learning outcomes across students, faculty, institutions, and communities. Provides recommendations for generating meaningful information about service learning, including: evaluating hypotheses derived from theory, using multiple-item…

Suggests that higher education institutions should provide faculty development opportunities for service-learning that develop a common understanding on campus concerning the nature of service-learning, establish and maintain academic integrity of service-learning; increase faculty confidence in implementing a new pedagogy, and increase the…

A multi-campus research survey of undergraduate students enrolled in service-learning courses asked students to describe how the service-learning course was designed in terms of the degree of integration of the learning and service component, the nature of the reflection activities, and the quality of the learning experience. Results indicated…

A review of literature on service learning in higher education suggests ways in which colleges and universities can support faculty's involvement in this approach to education. Issues discussed include recruitment of faculty to teach service courses, barriers and inhibitors to teacher motivation, faculty development strategies, and changes in…

Describes the rationale for using reflection to link service experience to learning in college instruction, and offers guidelines for developing effective reflection activities: linking student experiences to learning objectives; giving guidance for the reflection activities; scheduling the activities regularly; allowing feedback and assessment;…

As the prevalence of service-learning within higher education institutions grows across the globe there is value to explore, discuss, and describe the similarities and differences between the various expressions that are emerging. Such comparative analysis can deepen understanding of service-learning pedagogy, improve practice, and create a…