New Faculty Guide to Service-Learning Now Available

The goal of service-learning at Duquesne University is to connect academic content with meaningful service and facilitate critical reflection by all those involved. A new Faculty Guide to Service-Learning now available online aims to help faculty do just that.

Launched by the Office of Service-Learning, this new guide was compiled by faculty members of the service-learning advisory committee and service-learning office staff with the contributions of more than 20 faculty members who have taught service-learning courses at Duquesne.

“We’re pleased to offer this guide for faculty as a resource for their teaching,” said Lina Dostilio, director of academic community engagement. “Service-learning can help both faculty and students become more active and engaged citizens and live out the mission that Duquesne University was founded on.”

The 74-page guide includes sections about arranging service and establishing community partnerships, effective course design and implementation, preparing students for service, and safety and logistics. It also addresses common faculty concerns and provides recommended websites and other resources.

“This is a good resource for faculty who already are teaching service-learning classes or those who are interested in utilizing service-learning in their teaching,” Dostilio said.

In addition to using the guide, Dostilio said faculty members are encouraged to seek assistance with service-learning courses and community engagement projects through the Office of Service-Learning, which can help with course design, facilitate community partnerships and offer suggestions of publication outlets for scholarship on service-learning and more.

“We are eager to help the University community succeed in all service-learning efforts,” Dostilio said.

A guide for students also is available. The Student Guide to Service-Learning was written by students for students and is located on the Student Resource page of the service-learning website.