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What is Service-Learning?

PBCC defines service-learning as ”a teaching method that increases student engagement and success through community involvement to apply theories or skills being taught in a course.  Service-learning furthers the learning objectives of the academic courses, addresses community and civic needs, and requires students to reflect on their activity in order to gain an appreciation for the relationship between civics and academics. “

At PBCC we envision a College that is a diverse community of active learners where achievement occurs in an environment without boundaries.  We envision a responsive collaborative institution committed to the ongoing renaissance and enrichment of its community.  Service-learning provides a teaching method to assist faculty, students and the community in fulfilling the PBCC vision.

How does Service-Learning achieve the PBCC Strategic Plan goals?

PBCC will sustain an uncompromising commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.

• Diversify opportunities for students to serve
• Course-based Service-Learning

Increase the number of faculty offering high-quality, academically rigorous service-learning assignments as a part of their courses through:

• Faculty workshops
• Departmental presentations
• The creation of faculty incentives
• Co-Curricular Service-Learning activities
• Work with Student Affairs to offer more co-curricular service-learning activities.
• Aligning objectives and strategies for academic and civic learning in and out of the classroom.
• Community Federal Work Study (CFWS)
• Work with Financial Aid to establish/expand CFWS opportunities structured using the pedagogical structure of service-learning
• Set up a CFWS program using the President’s Focus on Achievement Mentoring Initiative (could be based out of the office of recruitment and retention).  
• Create an America Reads program with the School of Education and the county public school system.
• Utilize CFWS students to coordinate service based initiatives in Student and Academic Affairs (potentially including the assignment of CFWS students to faculty to support their service-learning activities or to the campus S-L Coordinator).
• Expand support to partnering with organizations through providing them with CFWS students who will be required to make curricular connections to their placement in the community.
• Service Internships
• Work to enhance community partnerships by diversifying opportunities for students to engage in service with local governmental and non-profit organizations.
• In addition to working with faculty to partner with community organizations, work with the career/intern/clinical/field placement specialists on campus to establish/enhance service internships.
• Expand institutional support for service-learning

PBCC will partner with and support Palm Beach County business, industry and government to sustain economic development, provide a skilled workforce and enhance the quality of life.

• Establish service partnership with private for-profit businesses to expand corporate citizenship and philanthropic portfolios.
• Engage college students in activities with disadvantaged youth (or related issues).

PBCC will provide maximum access and seamless articulation with PreK-20 education systems to enhance educational opportunities.

• This will address the state’s critical shortages of teachers and healthcare professionals.
• Engage college students in activities with disadvantaged youth (or related issues).

PBCC will ensure an environment that embraces and celebrates diversity in all areas of the college.

• Develop best practices in international service-learning.
• Create and implement international service-learning projects that promote public and private collaboration (i.e. receive a grant from USAID to have nursing students go to Haiti and offer basic healthcare services).
• Utilize local international students to create opportunities to celebrate and promote diversity.
• International students can be encouraged to help provide information on their country to other students of PBCC --- i.e. in special events/class presentations.
• Students from abroad can work with S-L classes to plan for international projects and/or create local solutions to global issues.
• Engage college students in activities with disadvantaged youth (or related issues).
• Set up a CFWS program using the President’s Focus on Achievement Mentoring Initiative (could be based out of the office of recruitment and retention).
• S-L projects that specifically focus on working with disadvantaged youth and celebrating diversity and helping with college access.

PBCC will continually assess and improve productivity, cost effectiveness and accountability.

• Produce research on the efficacy of service-learning.
• Utilize a database management system to track students, hours, faculty, and community partners; S-L surveys; and comparative analysis of S-L and non-S-L classes.

If you would like to learn more about service learning, please email Professor Heidi Ladika-Cipolla at cipollah@pbcc.edu.