Service-Learning

What is service - learning?

Service-learning at Wright State University is a teaching and learning method that engages faculty, students, and community members in a partnership to:

• Achieve academic learning objectives
• Meet community needs
• Promote civic responsibility

How do Learning Community students get involved in service-learning?

During fall quarter many Learning Community students participate in short group service-learning projects with their classmates.  The service projects often relate to WSU’s common text, the Learning Community curriculum, and/or a specific Learning Community theme.

The Common Text for Fall 2011-2012 is Zeitoun by David Eggers. Fall 2011 service-learning projects will be connected to one of the following themes: education, fundraising, community building, peace, refugee issues, or international perspectives.

The common text for 2009-2010 academic year is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Fall 2009 service-learning projects were often connected to one of the following themes: education, fundraising, community building, peace, refugee issues, or international perspectives. Examples of projects include:

• Fundraising for Pennies for Peace
• Participating in Habitat for Humanity
• Collecting school supplies for local refugee children
• Talking with international students about topics in Three Cups of Tea
• Folding hundreds of origami peace cranes

In Fall 2008 the Common Reading was Freakonomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt.  Service-learning projects were related to a range of topics addressed in the book, including those around poverty, education and voting such as:

• Participating in ONE Campus Challenge related projects that aim to raise awareness about global poverty and disease
• Reading with local elementary school students
• Talking with international students about voting and study abroad
• Registering voters on campus

What is UVC 1020: Campus-Community Connections in the First Year?

UVC 1020 is an elective open to any first year student.  Want to make a difference in our community, explore career opportunities through "hands-on" experience, and get credit for it?  Each section has a specific focus, is 1 credits and is graded P/U.

UVC 1020 students:

• Address social issues impacting our community
• Gain a better understanding of the agencies providing services in our community
• Complete approximately 4-5 weeks of service - generally 1 ½ to 2 hours a week

Past UVC 1020 Offerings:

• Service-Learning in Dayton’s Hispanic Community (Winter ’08)
• Lending a Helping Hand for Health (Winter ’09)
• Who Put the ‘Give’ in Giving? (Winter ’09)
• Sustainable Attitudes: Recycling and Conservation (Spring ’09)
• Becoming a Leader in your Freshman Year (Spring ’09)

Need more information?

For more information about service-learning for first-year students, contact Catherine Queener, Director, First Year Experience catherine.queener@wright.edu or (937) 775-5759.