“Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” (Chinese proverb)
The Office of Service-Learning at Canisius College fosters the development of an enhanced learning process for students through the incorporation of community service within academic courses together with structured reflection upon that experience in the context of the course. The mission of Service-Learning embraces the spirit of the mission of Canisius College which is to form “men and women with and for others.”
The goals of the Office of Service-Learning are:
- To enhance the students’ learning process through the incorporation of community service within academic courses together with structured reflection upon that experience in the context of the course
- To enable the students to experience personal transformation and a liberation of heart.
- To encourage within the students the development of a spirit of civic engagement that engenders awareness that leads to social action and a desire to participate in systematic change within the community.
- To engage students in an experience of service that benefits the community, the student, and the university.
- To assess the outcomes of the Service-Learning experience by providing assessment evaluation for students, faculty, and community partners.
- Promoting the development of Service-Learning opportunities in a variety of departments and disciplines.
- Providing information to faculty as to how Service-Learning and structured reflection upon the academic experience can be integrated into courses.
- Assisting faculty by providing presentations to classes about Service-Learning and organizing the service experiences for the students involved.
- Providing a means of assessment of the experience for the students, the processors, and the community partners engaged in the process.
- Maintaining a database of faculty, students, and community partners and organizations involved in Service-Learning.
- Maintaining a relationship with community organizations and agencies that can benefit from the university’s Service-Learning initiatives.
- Participating in professional conferences on Service-Learning and experiential education.
- Providing for professors information, articles, resources and sample syllabi pertaining to Service-Learning and maintaining a Service-Learning webpage.
- Collaborating with faculty to do research on how Service-Learning affects all who are involved in it.
- Regular meetings and consultation with the established Service-Learning Advisory Board.
- Care and respect for the whole person.
- Commitment to quality, excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Honest and integrity.
- Commitment to teamwork.
- Personal accountability.
- Commitment to the life of the mind and spirit.
“Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” (Chinese proverb)