Model Program
A model service-learning program, which has a very intentional connection to the community, provides students with the opportunity to be active learners, and strengthens university-community parternerships is the Chicano Park history project crafted by the Ethnic Studies Department. For more information, click here.

Purpose
Service-learning provides graduate and undergraduate students at the University of San Diego an opportunity engage with the community through intentional partnerships that link the learning in the classroom to the wisdom of the community. The goal behind USD’s service-learning efforts is to help students become “active learners, bringing skills and information from community work and integrating them with the theory and curriculum of the classroom to produce new knowledge. At the same time, students’ classroom learning informs their service in the community.” (Mitchell, 2008).

Each semester approximately 40 USD courses incorporate community service-learning, supported by faculty/student leader teams. Currently 75 courses from 48 faculty include such a component, and the program continues to grow. Building on 25 years of local engagement and community partner development, USD faculty, staff, and students develop and deepen partnerships between USD and the community each year. Community partnerships include cross-border partnerships and outreach to recent immigrants, local K-12 schools and educational enrichment programs, community centers, and more. Service-learning is supported by the faculty Experiential Education Committee which promotes and recognizes innovative teaching through internships, research, classroom simulation, as well as service-learning.

"Service-learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development." - Barbara Jacoby