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Service Learning

The FSU Service Learning Program works to support the integration of community service into the academic curriculum by working very closely with faculty, and to foster partnerships with community-based agencies in order to:

• enhance student learning and development
• encourage student civic responsibility
• foster community-based scholarship teaching, service, and research
• provide for student leadership development
• address identified community problems and social issues

Service Learning is experiential learning and service for students that is a part of a course or a structured project or activity. Service learning projects include academic preparation, work activities needed by the community, and structured reflection.

Proven Benefits of Service Learning include:

• Academic Learning Skills
• Civic and Democratic Participation
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Understanding Diversity Issues
• Interpersonal Skills (Includes Self Discovery)
• Degree and Career Planning
• Leadership Skills
• Impact on (Ability/Interest in Solving) Social Problems
• Valuable Work Experience

For more information about the Service Learning program, or to set up project for your class, please contact Elizabeth Swiman, Program Coordinator at 850-645-6856 or eswiman@admin.fsu.edu.

Setting up a service learning project

Service learning is a teaching method that encourages the use of guided reflection and other targeted skills to develop desired learning outcomes for students. 

The Service Learning Program staff is available to assist you with all the steps of creating a service learning project for your course/s. We have included a set of guidelines to help you get started:

1. Contact the Service Learning Program. We are here to assist you with all of the following steps.
2. Develop your service learning project outcomes in conjunction with your course syllabus.
1. We have included a project description template to help you work through developing the project learning outcomes and how they relate to your course objectives.
3. Work with the SLP staff to identify and contact community agencies.
1. The Center for Leadership and Civic Education maintains information and contact with many of the Tallahassee area agencies and can act as liaison for initial contact. We suggest that faculty members and agency contacts continue their conversations through direct contact with each other.
4. Contact your departmental program coordinator to ensure the course is designated as service learning in the course schedule master.
1. Through out ServScript program, students are able to record ALL of their service hours on their official transcripts. Having your course designated as service learning through the University Registrar places special distinction on your particular course.
5. Introduce the concept of service learning to your students at the beginning of the semester.
1. Service Learning is a pedagogy where out-of-the-classroom work enhances in-the-classroom learning. The earlier the concept is introduced to students, the less they feel like the project is “additional work.”
6. Conduct reflection exercises to asses the completion of the learning outcomes.
1. Reflection comes in many forms, including, but not limited to journaling and group discussion. The SLP staff is available to facilitate reflection exercises with your students upon completion of their project.