Service-Learning and Career Development: An Opportunity for Student Success
Presentation Format
Individual Presentation
Intended Audience
All Audiences
Presentation Description
In 2013, the UALR Community Connection Center (CCC) was established at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). The CCC houses the following three programs:
- Community Engagement initiatives, including service-learning and other forms of community-engaged learning,
- Career Services, including cooperative education and other internships,
- and UALR Children International, a grant-funded program focused on after-school programming for area children.
We see this unique combination of programs as a challenge, but also an opportunity. UALR Children International is a major community partner, and the CCC places students there in volunteer, service-learning, and internship opportunities. The connection between service-learning and career services is not as clear. The CCC saw this as an opportunity to further explore where service-learning and other community-based learning falls on the career development continuum for students. Many of our students begin with a service-learning experience in their freshman or sophomore year, move on to an internship, and then on to a career after they graduate. A well-designed service-learning project will allow students to acquire and hone professional skills, including teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and leadership skills, which are vital for success in the workplace. Further, service-learning often provides students with opportunities related to their majors and career interests. Ideally, students will graduate as active citizens prepared not only to make a living in the workplace but also to make a difference in the community.
In this presentation, we will review literature on this topic and participants will discuss ways to collaborate with career services on campus to further service-learning and other community-engaged learning initiatives.
Location
Room - 217
Start Date
4-14-2016 9:15 AM
End Date
4-14-2016 10:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Hart, Betsy, "Service-Learning and Career Development: An Opportunity for Student Success" (2016). Gulf South Summit on Service-Learning 2016. 83.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gss/2016/2016/83
Service-Learning and Career Development: An Opportunity for Student Success
Room - 217
In 2013, the UALR Community Connection Center (CCC) was established at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). The CCC houses the following three programs:
- Community Engagement initiatives, including service-learning and other forms of community-engaged learning,
- Career Services, including cooperative education and other internships,
- and UALR Children International, a grant-funded program focused on after-school programming for area children.
We see this unique combination of programs as a challenge, but also an opportunity. UALR Children International is a major community partner, and the CCC places students there in volunteer, service-learning, and internship opportunities. The connection between service-learning and career services is not as clear. The CCC saw this as an opportunity to further explore where service-learning and other community-based learning falls on the career development continuum for students. Many of our students begin with a service-learning experience in their freshman or sophomore year, move on to an internship, and then on to a career after they graduate. A well-designed service-learning project will allow students to acquire and hone professional skills, including teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and leadership skills, which are vital for success in the workplace. Further, service-learning often provides students with opportunities related to their majors and career interests. Ideally, students will graduate as active citizens prepared not only to make a living in the workplace but also to make a difference in the community.
In this presentation, we will review literature on this topic and participants will discuss ways to collaborate with career services on campus to further service-learning and other community-engaged learning initiatives.
Program Abstract
The UALR Community Connection Center encompasses both service-learning initiatives and career services. We see this unique combination of programs as an opportunity to further explore service-learning as a place on the career development continuum. Students often start with a service-learning experience, move on to an internship, and then on to a career. In this presentation, participants will discuss ways to collaborate with career services on campus to further service-learning and other community-engaged learning initiatives.