Mission

The Service Learning Program, a one-unit course, is meant to enrich the experience of a DHC student by promoting a sense of civic responsibility and allowing the student to pursue study beyond the confines of the classroom. The purpose is to engage students in thoughtfully organized service that meets the needs of their communities. The nature of the project should prepare the student for practical community-based problem solving while enhancing critical thinking, communication and team building.

How the Program Works

The Service Learning Coordinators facilitate student connections with community organizations to develop possible service learning projects. Once an organization is identified, the students will work with the organization to clarify what their needs are and determine how they can best use the assistance of DHC students. These projects will take a problem-oriented approach in that DHC students will be working with the organization to solve a problem they are facing, rather than simply volunteering for the organization. The basic idea is that these projects are not the typical service projects of working in a soup kitchen, tutoring, or picking up litter. Our projects will differ in that they will call upon the student to apply her or his critical thinking, communication, and team building skills.

Students will register for 1 unit of HNR 98. Since the number of projects will be limited, students will be working in small groups. Along with their group and the community organization, students will determine actual tasks to be accomplished as well as meeting times and meeting places outside of class.

The benefits for the student are that they will become deeply involved in one organization and will possibly have the option of continuing that involvement. Also, the service learning experience will allow students to clarify their career and/or educational goals. To assist in this, students will complete bi-weekly journals and other short assignments. These assignments will allow students to reflect on their progress throughout the quarter, and will be useful when completing the end-of-the-quarter presentations.

http://dhc.ucdavis.edu/html/slpmoreinfo.html