Beyond the Classroom: Strengthening communities through service learning
Some of the most impactful teachings in life do not always occur inside a classroom. Research shows that including hands-on, real-world learning opportunities for students greatly enhances their overall academic experience. That is exactly the mindset and focus of faculty members who offer courses with a service-learning designation.
Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience; ultimately teaching civic responsibility and strengthening communities. While service learning has been incorporated into Donnelly’s curriculum for over a decade, the College has expanded service-learning efforts after several faculty conducted research on the benefits to students.
Director of Humanities Gretchen Moffet, who completed a research release on the benefits of service learning in the 2017–2018 academic year, has seen firsthand how these efforts have impacted students.
“Students are overwhelmingly positive and receptive [to service learning],” Moffet said. “They enjoy getting out of the classroom and feeling like they are making a contribution, that they have something to offer. It helps build their confidence. For some, it may get them thinking about what they could do as they move on in their life.”
In addition to the typical course assignments and exams, service-learning courses require students to spend a specific number of hours completing the initial studying and preparation, community service project outside the classroom and post-service reflection. Students who complete at least four service-learning courses receive a service-learning honor cord at graduation.
At this year’s commencement ceremony, five graduates earned service-learning cords, the first group to do so in the school’s history. One of those students, Felix Dominguez, completed four service-learning courses: First Year Experience (taken by all new Donnelly students), Environmental Ethics, Environmental Science and Immigrant Fiction. A moment that stood out to him was witnessing his classmates find joy and purpose in serving the local community. In one of his courses, a group of students felt that even though they completed the required hours, they wanted to go above and beyond and planned an entirely new project to provide food and water to homeless people.
"I learned to not take what you have for granted,” Dominguez said. “There are always people who need more than you. Something as small as a granola bar could be a whole meal for someone.”
For graduate Issis Lopez, some of her favorite community service projects included working with refugee families, packing backpacks with school supplies for children and sorting furniture at a thrift store. She especially felt joyful to give back to community members facing food insecurity. “I learned that it is better to give than to receive,” she said. “We never know when we’ll need assistance too. During [the height of] COVID-19, my family was one of the families needing to pick up food. I knew I was going to be able to give back eventually and help those who helped me.”
Besides enrolling in courses with the service-learning designation, students can participate in a number of service-oriented Donnelly events throughout the school year. A favorite among staff and students is Donnelly’s annual Day of Service. This event brings together all new students at the start of each school year to participate in community service projects with faculty.
Students enrolled in the developmental reading and writing course Success First also have a unique opportunity to learn outside of the classroom. Through Project L.O.U.D. (Literacy Outreach in Urban Districts), students partner with a local school to read aloud to elementary and middle school students. Assistant Professor of Biology Joe Multhauf has seen students actively seeking out ways to participate in service-learning activities. “They love it,” he said. “The enrollment is higher in service-learning courses because students seek them out when enrolling each semester. Most students know it will be a positive experience.”
This year’s community partners include TurnStyles Thrift, KCK Housing Authority, Hope Distribution Center, Splitlog Farm and Gray Horse Equine Assisted Therapy. As Lopez reflected on her time as a Donnelly student, Galatians 6:9 stood out to her, especially the connection to Donnelly’s core value of Community. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap, if we do not give up.”