Information for Students
The Service-Learning Program at Loyola
- Benefits of Service-Learning for Students
- CEL Resources and Support for Service Learners
- Service-Learning Classes currently offered at Loyola (Fall 2008)
- Take ACTION! Community Partner Resource Guide
- Ten Tips for Service-Learning Students
Benefits of Service-Learning for Students
Research has demonstrated that participation in service-learning offers significant academic and personal benefits for students.
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When combined with reflection on their experiences, a service-learning course design can increase students’ academic learning and enhance their understanding of the subject matter.
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Community-based experiences strengthen students’ ability to apply what they have learned to “real world” settings.
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Working in the community enhances students’ personal development, e.g. sense of personal efficacy, personal/communal identity, social responsibility, and moral development.
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Concrete engagement in community service also increases students’ social responsibility and citizenship skills.
Service-learning also provides valuable “real world” experiences that students can use to test various career options, talk about in job interviews and on graduate/professional school applications, and include on their resumes and transcripts.
CEL Resources and Support for Service Learners
CEL's staff helps direct Loyola students to available service-learning courses, identifies relevant community-based organizations for service-learning placements using the eRecruiting system, and facilitates students' involvement in service-learning courses through direct course and agency support. They also consult with student groups and organizations interested in collaborating with Loyola faculty to develop and/or engage in academic service-learning coursework related to particular areas of interest. Finally, CEL also sponsors and teaches a 3-credit, elective service-learning course (UNIV 290) for students who are interested in an experience of community engagement and service-learning not directly connected to one of Loyola's main academic programs.
CEL has collected many of its most important resources for service learners in its "Service-Learning Resource Manual for Students" (PDF). This manual contains a student-focused explanation of service-learning and its benefits, tips for student service-learners, eRecruiting instructions, and copies of important documents used by the Service-Learning Program at Loyola.
- Contact CEL's Service-Learning Coordinator to inquire about cooperating with CEL on a new or already-existing service-learning course, or for help finding a service placement
- Links to copies of current CEL Service-Learning forms (e.g. hours logs, learning contracts)
- List of current Loyola service-learning courses (Fall 2008) and community partners
- Take ACTION! Community Partner Resource Guide