Service-learning provides great benefits for communities as well as the students, teachers, faculty, schools and campuses when these are joined in partnerships to work together to help meet community needs.
Though community can be defined in numerous ways, a general description could simply define it as: a group of people sharing common goals or interests. Communities have many unmet needs which could provide excellent learning opportunities for various disciplines, subject areas and ages of individuals. Non profit organizations, agencies, programs, schools and other "communities" welcome, and can benefit from, student involvement to bring fresh new perspectives, problem solving skills, expertise, and extra hands to help meet their needs.
- Determine potential partners
- Identify needs of each partner
- Develop plans/procedures to meet needs
- Determine desired outcomes for all involved
- Orient/train all individuals to be involved
- Determine reflection and evaluation methods
- Build in recognition and celebration of accomplishments
If interested in building a partnership, community members and
faculty are encouraged to contact the UNK Office for Service-Learning
for connections and personal contact information. Many partnerships
already exist between campus and the community, and others are
interested in developing these connections.
Information about UNK faculty who are currently, or have recently,
implemented service-learning in the classroom curriculum, is also
available through this Office. Faculty from all four of the UNK
colleges have participated in service-learning training institutes and
would be interested in sharing information with other interested
faculty members.
Examples of UNK faculty/student work in the community
- Business professors work with classes and community to build web pages, Power Point presentations or databases for non profit agencies.
- Social Work faculty member has students assist foster care children in building memory books.
- Education professor has ESL students working with English Limited Learners in the elementary schools.
- English professor has student completing research and writing about a community need. Then students complete 20 hours of service in the identified agency/program to help meet the specific need.
Call the UNK Office for Service-Learning for additional information 308-865-8957. Email:stirtzg@unk.edu