What is Service Learning?
Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that combines and pursues both academic achievement and community service in a seamless weave. Along with effective reflection, it can enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.
Mission Statement / Goal
To encourage and strengthen Service Learning and Civic Engagement among MSSU students, faculty and administrators while being a liason between and a resource to the Joplin community and the university.
Benefits for Students
- Provides skills and experience to help build your resume.
- Is an opportunity for meaningful involvement in the community.
- Is a great way to network with professionals in the community.
- Is a way to "test the waters" of different career fields.
Benefits for Faculty
- Provides great public relations and enhances the University's public image.
- Positively impacts curriculum, fundraising efforts, student recruitment and retention.
- Provides opportunities to extend University's knowledge and resources.
- Fosters the development of relationships between organizations and faculty.
- Provides networking opportunities for colleagues across disciplines.
- Fosters motivated teaching due to greater student interaction with subject matter.
- Gives university the opportunity to be more a part of the community instead of an isolated entity.
Benefits for Community
- Access to university resources.
- Opportunities to contribute to the educational process.
- Solutions to pressing community needs.
- Fosters the importance of service and civic participation in students who will become future volunteer and civic leaders.
Service Learning Ideas
Click the following links below for serving learning ideas
www.compact.org/category/resources/service-learning-resources
www.fiu.edu/~time4chg/library/ideas.html
www.learnandserve.gov/about/programs/higher_education.asp
For information about Missouri Campus Compact and Americorps *VISTA service learning opportunities, please click the following links below
www.missouricompact.missouristate.edu
www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp
For more information, please contact Tara Clark, Serving Learning Coordinator at 417-625-9343 or email clark-tara@mssu.edu