• Students and faculty report that service-learning has a positive impact on students' academic learning.
• Students and faculty report that service-learning improves students' ability to apply what they have learned in “the real world.”
• Service-learning participation has an impact on such academic outcomes as demonstrated complexity of understanding, problem analysis, critical thinking, and cognitive development.
• Students engaged in service-learning report stronger faculty relationships than those who are not involved in service-learning.
• Service-learning has a positive effect on reducing stereotypes and facilitating cultural and racial understanding. (Eyler, Giles, Stenson, and Gray, 2001.)
• Service-learning initiatives provide the community with energetic, enthusiastic college students who meet educational, human service, safety, and environmental needs.
• Service-learning creates a spirit of civic responsibility. Many students may commit to a lifetime of service and civic involvement after this experience.
At Buffalo State College, service-learning courses offer the opportunity to extend learning beyond the walls of the classroom. This form of experiential learning is incorporated in many classes on campus. Faculty in various departments have converted their courses to include community service in the curriculum.
Service-learning takes many forms, in many different departments, with many community partners. Read about recent examples of service-learning courses offered at Buffalo State College.
