Frequently Asked Questions?

What is service-learning?
Service-learning is defined at Fort Hays State University as involving students outside of the classroom to enhance their learning and growth while simultaneously benefiting the community. The experience is closely related to the academic goals of the class that includes students reflecting on the experience.

Service Learning Photo

What are the goals of the ADP?

• To increase the number of undergraduate students who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful civic actions by asking participating institutions to review and restructure academic programs and processes, extracurricular programs and activities, and the institutional culture.
• Focus the attention of policymakers and opinion leaders on the civic value of the college experience.

What are the elements of an effective service project?

• Service activities should be of sustained or significant duration;
• The project should have clear and specific learning objectives;
• Strong connections to the curriculum they are studying;
• Relationships are explicit so that students see service as a civic responsibility;
• Time is provided to reflect on their experience;
• Students not only have a role in executing the service project, but also in making decisions about its development; and
• Strong partnerships with community groups based on mutually agreed upon goals, roles, and responsibilities are essential.
  

What are the benefits of service-learning?
The National Commission on Service-Learning summarized a yearlong study of the state of service-learning. The Commission, consisting of 18 education, government, and community leaders examined K-12 school-based programs conducted between 1994 and 1997 evaluating Learn and Serve America's service-learning programs. Highlighted below, the complete survey results can be located at:
www.learnandserve.org/research

• Increased student engagement
• Improved academic achievement
• Improved character
• Improved social behavior
• Stronger ties to schools, communities, and society
• Exposure to new careers
• Positive school environments
• Stronger community groups

Campus Community Fair Photo    

What are the steps to implementation?

1. Assess your needs and resources
2. Form partnerships
3. Set specific educational goals and curriculum
4. Select a project and begin preliminary planning
5. Plan your project in detail
6. Acquire necessary funding and resources
7. Implement and manage the project
8. Organize reflection activities
9. Assess and evaluate your service program
10. Celebrate achievements

What is civic engagement?

• Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community through both political and non-political processes.
• A morally and civically responsible individual recognizes himself or herself as a member of a larger social fabric and therefore considers social problems to be at least partly his or her own; such an individual is willing to see the moral and civic dimensions of issues, to make and justify informed moral and civic judgments, and to take action when appropriate.

Alternative Spring Break Photo
What does ADP seek to do?

• Create a national conversation among many campuses about the theory and practice of civic engagement.
• Develop institutional commitment by involving senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students; by addressing core institutional mission and purpose; and by focusing on civic engagement as a learning outcome for undergraduates.
• Initiate new projects, courses, and teaching strategies, extracurricular programs, and other programs to increase civic engagement, supported by the national project office.
• Measure the civic engagement outcomes of undergraduates on participating campuses, and assess the impact of the project in contributing to greater civic engagement outcomes.
• Disseminate the models that result to a wide audience of higher education institutions, individuals, and policymakers.

Contact Dr. Chapman Rackaway, Campus Coordinator, crackawa@fhsu.edu.