Service Learning aligns with the Wake Forest spirit of Pro Humanitate and the goals of Institute for Public Engagement (IPE) to further engaged teaching and scholarship, build community, and support service.
Service-Learning is a “credit-bearing, educational experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs and reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility” Robert Bringle and Julie Hatcher, A Service Learning Curriculum for Faculty. The Michigan Journal of Community Service –Learning, Fall 1995, pp.112-122
Essential components are:
- Enhanced academic learning (relating specific service activities to student academic learning)
- Purposeful civic learning (helping students understand community needs, the context of their service, and how they can impact their community)
- Relevant and meaningful service with the community (well organized service that responds to a community need as identified by the community)
- Integration strategies (structured activities that support learning from service and promote critical reflection and analysis, e.g. classroom discussions, individual structured reflections (journals), class presentations, written assignments)
- Credit is awarded to students based on demonstration of their learning
INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT (IPE) SUPPORT FOR SERVICE LEARNING
IPE coordinates efforts to enhance engaged teaching and scholarship by providing support for the key stakeholders, namely faculty, students and community partners.
With regard to support for Wake Forest Students, the IPE:
- Conducts outreach to students and student organizations to raise awareness about service learning
- Encourages students to include service learning courses in their academic curriculum
- Creates web resources for students interested in finding suitable service learning courses that fit with their academic and career goals
- Highlights funding resources for students interested in service learning opportunities
The following links contain more information about service learning at Wake Forest:
Service Learning Resources for Community Partners
Service Learning Resources for Faculty
List of Service Learning Courses offered at Wake Forest
Another resource is North Carolina Campus Compact, which builds the capacity of colleges and universities to produce civically-engaged graduates.
For more information, please contact:
Norma-May Isakow
Associate Director
Institute for Public Engagement
Reynolda Hall Room 305c
PO Box 7213 | Winston-Salem, NC 27109
p 336.758.4021 | f 336.758.3305
