Welcome EWU Faculty and Students!
The EWU Office of Community Engagement (OCE) is here to help better connect the students and faculty to the community!
Service-Learning is a teaching strategy that integrates course content with relevant community service. Through assignments and class discussions, students critically reflect on the service in order to increase their understanding of course content, gain a broader appreciation of the discipline, and enhance their sense of civic responsibility.
Service-Learning at EWU:
- Seeks to develop projects intentionally and in collaboration with community partners to meet a critical agency or community need.
- Provides students service-learning activities which are purposeful and support the academic outcomes of the course.
- Requires ongoing, structured reflection throughout the course to deepen the connections between classroom learning and the service performed.
- Fosters an environment in which students, faculty and community partners are co-learners and co-teachers in creating better communities.
Please explore our website to find out more about service learning and how to get involved!
What is service-learning?
Service-learning is the formal integration of meaningful community service with classroom instruction and reflection to enhance student learning, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. Courses with a service-learning component offer students an exciting opportunity to apply and reflect upon course concepts through helping nonprofits meet identified community needs!
Getting Started
- The first step in a successful service-learning experience is to locate and contact a placement site. OCE staff will be doing class presentations to help you discover more about our community partners and which sites are the right fit for you.
- Before visiting your agency for the first time, review the checklists and documents uploaded to your course portal in EagleSync.
- If you still have questions, check with your professor, or visit the Office of Community Engagement located in Showalter Hall.
Reflection
Refection is encouraged to help students make the connection between experiences in the community and the classroom instruction.
Saying Goodbye
Service-learning Course Development and Related Forms
For faculty wanting to develop a service-learning course, please review the following resources for additional ideas and support.
Course Development Resources:
- Service Learning Designation Criteria and Approval Process
- Service learning Manual for Faculty (in progress)
- Service Learning Faculty Guide Resources and Journals
- E-Service-Learning – The Evolution of Service-Learning to Engage a Growing Online Student Population
Forms
- EWU Service-Learning Agreement Form
- EWU Service Learning Time Log
- Service Learning Final Evaluation Form
- Service Learning Mid-Qtr Evaluation Form
- Service Learning Liability Release (Non-Minors)
- Service Learning Liability release (Minors)
Please contact the Office of Community Engagement (communityengagement@ewu.edu / 509-359-6255) if you have questions or would like support in developing a community-based learning course.
