The business of Service Learning

Service Learning is a program where students utilize skills gained in coursework to benefit members of the community. Students gain practical experience, and those being served gain valuable assistance. Service Learning programs range from volunteer hours added as a requirement to a traditional course to semester or yearlong classes dedicated to Service Learning. Each model has pros and cons and the effectiveness of a particular model can vary based on the characteristics of and resources available at the individual university. This paper presents the evolving model of a year-long course dedicated to Service Learning and housed in the Mathematical, Information and Computer Sciences department of Point Loma Nazarene University. PLNU is a relatively small liberal arts university without an administrative department overseeing Service Learning. The course is one of three options for gaining practical experience. Hence, the program must be flexible enough to provide a good experience for any number of students and combination of majors, and must be self-contained. We have chosen to run our Service Learning course using a business model where student resources can be realigned as necessary to meet project needs. In addition to project assignments, students cover administrative tasks and provide training to other students.