SL Faculty
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-- The Potomac Institute (www.servenet.org) |
What is Service Learning?
Service-learning is a "real world" teaching process that intensifies learning through the students' active
participation in, and reflection on, volunteer experiences.
The Growth, Nationwide, of Service Learning
Service Learning is growing quickly. Based on figures published in June 1999, more than 6.7 million
students in 4-year colleges participate in service-learning!
Service Learning & Education Majors
NCATE, the organization that provides accreditation to many education programs, including that
of SUNY Cortland, will soon require student teachers to have at least 100 hours of documented
teaching-related experience before they do student teaching.
Appropriate Service Learning experience
(tutoring, for example), as part of a designated composition class, provides an education major with 60 of
those 100 hours, providing that student takes two CPN classes in the fall 0f 2001 or later.
Service Learning at SUNY Cortland
is designed to improve students' writing skills, students' personal development, and the success of our
agency partners in meeting their objectives.
Service Learning Hours at SUNY Cortland
Service work averages 2-3 hours per week for 10 weeks, although schedules for some positions may
vary. A minimum of 30 hours of service is currently required.
The Service Learning Process at SUNY Cortland
During the first week of the semester, SL instructors will provide classes with an an orientation to Service
Learning objectives and requirements. Students will also receive information that profiles our partnering
agencies.
Choosing a Service Learning Agency and Position
Early each semester, Service Learning Job Fairs are held at the Multi-Function Room in Corey Union.
Service Learning participants attend this fair, gather information about specific agencies, and prioritize their
choices for submission to instructors.
The coordinator of the English Department's Service Learning Program then assigns students to a
position with an organization of their choice or one like it. Because each assignment requires agency contact
and confirmation, assignments cannot be made until the third week of the semester.
Getting Started
Students then arrange to meet with staff at their assigned agencies to introduce themselves, to discover
the specifics of their new position, and to work out a schedule.
Students begin Service Learning work after that. Instructors will ask students to maintain records of their
work, and may require that students write reflective reports and essays, and participate in classroom
discussions and exercises on Service Learning experiences.
The Extra Service Learning Credit
SUNY Cortland recognizes participation in a service-learning class by giving four credits to students
passing designated Service Learning courses. At the present time those four credit courses are offered by
the English Department in designated freshman composition courses of Academic Writing
in the Community I and II (CPN 102
and CPN 103). Students interested in taking composition courses with a Service Learning component
should make sure to sign up for them during registration.
Service Learning Background at SUNY Cortland
Through the work of Craig Little (Chair, Sociology) and Calvin Barrett (Sociology), in 1999, SUNY Cortland
was awarded a COPC (Campus Outreach Program Center) grant, whose goal is to help area
community- based non-profit agencies to serve the community. COPC and the Service Learning program on
campus are working in concert with area agencies to meet this goal.
We invite you to browse our new
website.
Check the left column on this and following pages for links to take you
to other pages.
Service Learning Benefits Everybody!
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