Iowa has the highest percentage of students engaged in service out of all states with Campus Compact members.*

*2007 Service Statistics, Campus Compact (PDF)

University of Iowa faculty members play a key role in supporting service learning and encouraging volunteerism. A well-rounded education includes learning how to apply what is learned in the classroom to a real-life setting.

Benefits of Service Learning:

  • Enhances course content
  • Provides a rewarding, transformative teaching tool
  • Offers students memorable, exciting perspectives on the course subject
  • Underscores faculty efforts to teach course content in diverse settings
  • Engages students who have diverse backgrounds and learning styles
  • Provides new opportunities for scholarship, funding, and recognition
  • Keeps teaching and learning fresh
(Source: Center for Teaching)

Quick Resource Links:

• Service Learning Funding: Raising Funds for Service Learning in Higher Education (National Service-Learning Clearing House)
• Relationship Building: www.communitypartners.org & www.sustainable.org
• Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning
• Campus Compact Service Learning Resources
• University of Iowa Center for Teaching, Service-Learning. Faculty interested in service learning pedagogy may contact the Center for Teaching to arrange a consultation by calling (319) 335-6048. The Center for Teaching also has an extensive service learning lending library that can be accessed by visiting the Center for Teaching office at 4039 Main Library.

Locating Service Learning Courses at the University of Iowa:

• Currently, there is not a way to search for service learning courses on ISIS. The Registrar's Office suggests that students consult with their academic advisors or individual departments/colleges to locate service learning courses.

Community Partnerships:

• Best Practices for Building Community Partnerships
• Reflection questions for developing a Campus-Community Partnership
• Community Voices: A California Campus Compact Study on Partnerships (Executive Summary, PDF). A study of community perspectives on effective partnerhsip characteristics.

Student Partnerships:

• Involving Students in Planning
• Benefits of Working with Students: Often bring new ideas, great peer-to-peer networking, want to create something that leaves a legacy, want to learn new skills and gain confidence, can keep you young/positive, are impressionable/trainable, willing to work many hours, take what they've learned to make positive changes in their communities (Source: Students As Partners: Creating Meaningful Co-Curricular & Student-led Initiatives. Shari Galiardi, Appalachian State University. July 30, 2008, Campus Compact Professional Development Institute.)
• Challenges of Working with Students: Can be demanding of time, students often take on too much and don't follow through, ineffective communication, exhibit a lack of judgement at times, MIA during mid-terms/finals (Source: Galiardi).

Print Resources:

• Zlotkowski, E., Longo, N.V., & Williams, J.R. (eds). (2006) Students as Colleagues: Expanding the Circle of Service-Learning Leadership. Providence, RI: Campus Compact. (Avaliable at: http://www.compact.org/publications/detail/students_as_colleagues)
• Eyler, J., & Giles, D.E. (1999) Where's the Learning in Service-Learning? Jossey-Bass. (Avaliable at: http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0787944831,descCd-description.html)