What is Academic Service-Learning?

Academic service-learning is a pedagogy, or teaching method, that utilizes community service projects within the context of an academic course.

Academic service-learning distinguishes itself from internships and other credit-bearing community experiences in several ways. First, the community experience is a component of an academic course, used as a "text" for student learning. Second, service-learning projects are designed in partnership with community to meet an expressed community need. Third, a structured reflection activity is utilized to help students understand how their community experiences link with the academic and civic learning objectives of the course. More information can be found on the CCE website.