Service Learning

Service-Learning and Civic Engagement at Jackson State Community College

Community colleges have long been centers for educational opportunities, making higher education accessible and close to home. At Jackson State, we take this mission further by integrating Service-Learning into our academic programs, blending community service with academic instruction to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and personal growth.

The National and Community Service Acts of 1990 define service learning with a set of criteria:

1. Under which students learn and develop through participation in thoughtfully organized service experiences that meet actual community needs and that are coordinated in collaboration with the school and community;
2. That is integrated into the student’s academic curriculum or provides structured time for a student to think, talk, or write about what the student did and saw during the actual service activity;
3. That enhances what is taught in school by extending student learning beyond the classroom and into the community and helps to foster the development of a sense of caring for others.

"Transform your education through hands-on community service, making a real-world impact while gaining valuable skills for the future."

Benefits of Service-Learning

For Students:

• Enhanced interpersonal skills, teamwork, and leadership abilities
• Stronger sense of social responsibility and active citizenship
• Improved academic performance compared to non-service learning courses
• Greater ability to apply academic knowledge in real-world scenarios
• Stronger relationships with faculty members
• Increased satisfaction with their college experience and higher likelihood of graduation
• Encouraged to continue service and civic engagement post-graduation

For Faculty:

• Greater satisfaction with the quality of student learning
• Opportunities to connect with the community and create impactful learning experiences
• Development of scholarships tied to community engagement
• Recognition in reports for promotion and tenure
• Ability to demonstrate the real-world application of student learning
• Personal fulfillment in contributing to community and student development

For Community Partners:

• Access to student participation for services and projects
• Enhanced organizational capacity through student involvement
• Opportunities to inspire students, potentially leading to future service
• Strengthened relationships with the college and its students

Goals of Service-Learning

• Achieve academic learning objectives while involving students in meaningful community activities.
• Prepare students for future careers through real-world experience
• Empower students to understand and address local issues and needs
• Give students more responsibility for their learning process
• Expose students to societal inequality and injustice, enabling them to make a tangible difference
• Encourage students to connect theory with practice and thought with action
• Provide a global, cultural, and intergenerational perspective

Get Involved
At Jackson State, Service-Learning empowers students to connect their academic journey with impactful community service, enriching both their education and the world around them.