Community Partnerships' Service Learning
Our Mission Statement...
Service Learning, a program of Adams State College Community Partnerships, facilitates multi-faceted learning opportunities by connecting educators and students with service providers, non-profits and other community partners to foster personal growth and civic engagement while meeting community needs in the San Luis Valley.
What is Service Learning?
Service-Learning is a form of experiential learning in which students address community needs while achieving specific curricular objectives. Service-learning is more than traditional "volunteering" because it combines service activities with structured reflection. Reflection enhances student's classroom and field experiences, while fostering an ethic of civic responsibility among service- learners.
Faculty
- Individual meetings to discuss appropriate service sites that match course objectives.
- Literature and sample assignments that aid in connecting students' service to coursework.
- Class presentations to introduce service learning to students.
- Tools for implementing service learning such as contracts, risk forms, times sheets, etc.
- Support and assistance with the development of "reflection" assignments.
- Coordination of Service-Learning class activities.
The Service-Learning office is available to support faculty with the integration of service-learning into curricula. Services offered by the office include:
Community
- College students who serve as human resources, able to meet agency need.
- The opportunity to help cultivate energy and enthusiasm for a lifetime of volunteerism among service learners.
- The opportunity to participate in an educational partnership in which community agencies act as co-educators for service-learning students.
- Service-learners are potential future employees with job skills, a sense of creativity and appreciation for diversity.
The service-learning office is available to support community organizations hosting service learning students. Types of support offered by the office include:
- Site visits by the service-learning staff to discuss agency needs and service-learning opportunities.
- Help to design and formalize service-learning opportunities.
- Facilitation of connections among instructors
There are many benefits for community agencies who host service-learning students including:
Students
- Real-world experience relating to subject being studied.
- Opportunities to build community networks for future employment and volunteer opportunities.
- Development of insight into possible career paths.
- A heightened understanding of social issues and projects.
- In depth insight into the class work.
- Scholarship money for college.
The Service-Learning office is available to support students engaged in service- learning. Types of support offered by the office include:
- Advice in the selection of appropriate service sites.
- Consultation and discussion of ideas and concerns that develop throughout service- learning process.
- Assistance with reflection and assignments related to service-learning.
The benefits to students participating in service-learning are innumerable, but they include:
Service Learning Partners
- La Puente Home
- Evans Elementary School
- Ortega Middle School
- Polston Primary School
- Environmental Conservation and Education Council (ECEC)
- Alamosa Chamber of Commerce
- Padres Y Jovenos Unidos
- Immigrant Resource Center
- Alamosa Open High School
- Even Start/La Llave
