How to Efficiently Document Service Learning on Your Campus

Participation All four Blinn campuses have Service Learning Over 10,000 students have participated in S-L since the 2004 Fall pilot, with over 1400 this semester. S-L has documented over 218,000 hours in Service within our communities. Using the formula from The Points of Light Foundation these 214,000 hours translate into $ 4,350,000 dollars worth of service that our students have given back to our communities. 80 Community Partners – Representing 19 different communities

Service Learning Projects by Discipline Agriculture –Agriculture Industry –Wildlife Management Dental Hygiene Humanities –Foreign Language –Intro to Creative Writing –Technical Writing –English 1301 Nursing – ADN, LVN, EMT, & PHTA Math –Fundamental of Mathematics Social Sciences –Government (Fed & State) –History (US & Tx) –Sociology Physical Education Business –Intro to Business –Macro Economics Natural Science –Geology –Ecology –Zoology –Biology –Astronomy –Microbiology –Oceanography Parallel Studies Education Fine Arts –Speech –Theater –Music –Design I

Recognition at Graduation S-L classes are now indicated in both on-line and paper copy of the course schedule Faculty can enter their S-L students through BORIS Allowing the S-L office access to demographic and academic data for analysis Institutionalizing Service Learning

Demographic Data Reports

Banner Gradebook

Banner Grade Comment

Tracking the number of students or classes engaged in S-L is important as a snap shot to the health of the program, and gives us an idea of progress on the different campuses and in the community, but ultimately we are interested in the Academic Success of the students. Measuring Success

Grade distribution data from Blinn’s Institutional Research office shows an increased student success rate (A-C) after implementing a S-L project Analysis of the first five years of S-L showed 90.9% of the participants received a passing grade (A-C) in the class, compared to 64.3% of those not participating in S-L End of the semester Student Surveys indicate that students are overwhelmingly in favor of the S-L projects, 91% reporting that in their opinion the S-L project was instrumental in their understanding of the subject

Documentation Benefits Institution can track Service hours and Academic performance Student receive a Certificate for each S-L class Service Learning is designated on their Official Transcript Recognition at graduation if 3 or more S-L courses are complete Provided an opportunity to wear Red Cords of Distinction at graduation Provide students with documented experience & enhances student’s resumes Provide documentation for Grants and Awards

Awards & Recognition Blinn College was classified nationally for community engagement. Blinn was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll four consecutive years.

Conclusions: Service Learning is growing It is critical to be able to efficiently identify students engaged in Service Accurate gathering of data allows for: highlighting impact, identifying faculty, applying for grants, running demographic studies, and assessment of the program

Contact: Dr. Greg Phillips