November 20, 2000
When Montclair State launched its Service-Learning Program six years ago, the hope was that students would gain a sense of civic responsibility by working in the community and then have the opportunity to reflect those experiences in the classroom.
The results of a three-year survey conducted by Tamara Lucas of Educational Foundations shows the program not only benefits the students, it also has had a positive impact on participating faculty and the community partners. In short, the program has exceeded everyone's expectations.
Eighty percent of the 951 students who have participated in the survey described the experience as either "good" or "excellent."
"With this data and research, we can describe and document program activities, and determine impacts on MSU students and faculty members," Lucas said. The program has grown in all areas, including a 200-percent increase in student participation. The number of courses has increased as well, from two the first year to 25 in the sixth.
This semester, 10 faculty members are teaching 12 courses. There are also 17 community partners and 41 community locations involved in the program, which tackles issues such as literacy and academic development of school-aged children, aging, substance abuse, the digital divide and support for at-risk children.
According to the results, 61 percent of the students surveyed said they learned more compared to regular classes, and more than half, 52 percent, described the program as intellectually challenging. Sixty-three percent said the experience was better than expected and 85 percent said they would recommend the course to friends.
Service-Learning faculty who were surveyed said the program enhances student learning, prepares them for careers, exposes them to important social issues and problems, and gives them a sense of value for community participation.
"Being involved in the program allows faculty to learn from each other by sharing the personal insights they have gained," said Marybeth Henry of Human Ecology, who has taught service learning courses since the program's inception. "The program provides a support system for faculty to create and offer academic courses that incorporate applied learning experiences and reflection on issues of public concern."
This summer the Service-Learning Program began the Faculty Fellows Program to prepare new groups of faculty to master the pedagogy and practices of service learning. The program is designed to increase the number and quality of courses while meeting the needs of the community. The first group of new fellows are MaryJo Belenski of Health Professions; Emily Issacs and Bob Whitney of English; and William (Bucky) Schnarr, who has been a community partner and is on a one-year appointment in Information and Decision Sciences. Henry and Ken Brook of Anthropology will serve as the fellows' mentors.
"The Service-Learning Program provides a tremendous opportunity for faculty to work with community leaders and residents to address community needs," Henry said. Linda Gonzales, coordinator of the Service-Learning Program, said, "The growth of the program relies on the quality of the teaching faculty and the effectiveness of the partnerships."