Service with a Smile

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University has long recognized the importance of service learning, which offers students educational experiences through work in the community. Service-learning projects increase students’ knowledge of civic responsibility and engagement while strengthening the communities surrounding campus.

Service-learning course offerings have increased significantly at VCU over the past few years. More than 3,000 students each year are enrolled in more than 120 service-learning classes taught by 60 different faculty members.

"Service learning is a core element of the university's commitment to community engagement,” said Cathy Howard, Ph.D. vice provost of the Division of Community Engagement, which oversees VCU’s service-learning efforts. “Students, with guidance from their faculty, are addressing community-identified needs while learning critical lessons about themselves in relation to the larger community. These experiences are essential to the development of engaged citizens who will continue to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways after graduation.”

And now a new website is bringing all of the components of VCU’s service-learning efforts into a single location online.

Launched today, www.servicelearning.vcu.edu, features a community partner map; links to the VCU service-learning Facebook group; resources for faculty, students and community partners; sample syllabi and overviews of service-learning courses; video and photo albums; and a "submit your story" function to share service-learning news across campus.

"Our new website is designed to provide faculty, students and community partners with up-to-date information about service-learning initiatives at VCU and to provide a place where these groups can share their stories and we can highlight and celebrate the wonderful work they are doing in the community," said Lynn Pelco, Ph.D., service-learning program director at the Division of Community Engagement.

Organizers expect the new website to boost awareness in the greater university community of the importance of service learning, helping students to embrace it as an essential element of their education.

Student Tara Franklin, a teaching assistant for service-learning classes in the focused inquiry program, said every student should experience service learning, which she views as an important complement to what students learn in the classroom.  

“We are able to relate our firsthand experiences to our classroom lessons which has helped us to see the bigger social problems our surrounding communities face day-to-day,” Franklin said.

“Service learning has been the most influential factor in my education here at VCU and I encourage everyone to take a service-learning class.”

Franklin’s sentiments are echoed by Stuart Harrison, a geography service-learning teaching assistant who has been active in service learning for the past four semesters. Harrison noted the far reach of the projects.

“I lead students in removing trash and debris from Reedy Creek, an urban stream located in the Richmond's south side, and the surrounding Reedy Creek wetlands,” Harrison said. “In cleaning the creek, we prevent pollution from entering into the James River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. It is an honor to be a part of a program like this while it is still in its relative infancy. I feel like service-learning is the logical next format for university education.”

Pelco is proud of the positive experiences of students in VCU’s service-learning programs and is hopeful the website will encourage more people to make a difference on campus and in the surrounding community.

"VCU really 'walks the talk' when it comes to valuing community engagement,” Pelco said. “In the service-learning office, we are dedicated to helping faculty members collaborate with community groups so that our university resources can help address critical social needs and enhance the quality of our students' academic experiences at the same time."