November 9, 2001

Service learning puts students, issues on the same page

by Lisa Olson, A'03, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications

A popular buzzword in the world of education is experiential learning, or learning from the experiences of everyday life. Loyola University is promoting a new concept of its own, service learning, learning through service to one's community. Carol Jeandron, former provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Nunez Community College and a native of New Orleans, is the director of the Office of Service Learning. Jeandron, who began in August, developed a similar program while at Nunez and brings extensive knowledge and renowned passion to her position.

She explains that while service learning is a part of experiential learning which includes forms of volunteerism or internships, service learning combines the two ideas in a program encouraging community service and field education.

"Loyola is a great school for a service learning program," Jeandron emphasizes. "The ethic of service already promoted by Loyola's students and faculty is a great beginning. I feel this program has strong support from upper administration and, while the faculty determines the program's success, support from the administration moves it forward. I like how many of Loyola's faculty members have been including aspects of service learning in their teaching methods for years, even without the organized program," Jeandron says. Service learning also will make it easier for professors to design creative projects for their students.

Loyola is fortunate to have Jeandron who brings a broad range of primary and secondary teaching and administrative experience. This gives her a unique perspective when designing collegiate programs. In her opinion, Loyola needs to form a "seamless web" across all levels of education, a need for continuity between the levels. Service learning offers the greatest opportunity for a continuous partnership between the student, the school, and the community. It is beneficial to each in different ways. For instance, students studying homelessness can learn more about it by helping the homeless than they can by reading a textbook. They may even find a new career in a nonprofit organization, or take part in finding a solution to the problem of homelessness. The community enjoys benefits such as inexpensive manpower from the student volunteers, potential future employees, and an enhanced level of service for those in need. The school and faculty are not left out of this ring of benefits, Jeandron stressed.

Loyola's service learning program comes about as a result of a $79,500 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges and $60,000 from the university. Jeandron says her first goals are to implement the requirements of the grant. She has already put together a service learning advisory board comprised of faculty representing each college, students, administrators, community agency members, and community members. This group will outline goals of the service learning program. Jeandron plans to begin with one or two major projects to set the tone for the program. She wants the first few projects to express quality and academic rigor. In future semesters she expects to work on many more service learning projects, strengthening the bond among students, faculty, and the community.