Community-Engaged Learning

You’ll hear a great deal about service on Saint Michael’s campus as students give their time and talents to our community in countless ways. Nowhere, though, is our mission “to contribute through higher education to the enhancement of the human person and to the advancement of human culture in the light of the Catholic faith” more evident than through our service-learning program.

Service-learning is a credit-bearing, educational experience in which students in an academic course participate in a thoughtfully organized service activity that meets identified community needs. Students reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility.

Service-learning is different from community service (though St. Mike’s students are practically professional volunteers). Unlike co-curricular volunteer activities, such as those sponsored by our MOVE (Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts) Office, service-learning programs involve students in organized community service that corresponds to the academic content of a specific course. A variety of courses at St. Mike’s have a service-learning component.