What are some pros and cons of making service learning optional or required in my course?

It is up to each professor to decide whether service learning will be optional or required in a particular course.

Some pros of requiring service learning:

• Professors can "teach to" the SL and incorporate it into lectures, discussions, and writing assignments because they can assume all students are having an SL experience
• It makes SL more central to the class
• Planning is easier because the service learning office and partner agencies can estimate numbers of students more accurately
• Eliminates the need to create equivalent SL and non-SL options

Some cons of requiring service learning:

• Non-compliant students
• Students with special needs may require a non-SL alternative
• Extenuating circumstances may prevent some students from completing a SL commitment

Some pros of making service learning optional:

• Resistant or non-compliant students can choose a non-SL alternative
• Students may be better volunteers if they choose to be involved in SL
• It's easier to accommodate students with legitimate extenuating circumstances

Some cons of making service learning optional:

• Decreases professors' ability to "teach to" the SL and incorporate it into lectures, discussions, and writing assignments
• SL may become peripheral to the class and students may wonder why it was included
• Planning is more difficult because of uncertainties in estimating the number of students who will opt into SL
• Professors may end up running two parallel courses, one for service learners and one for non-service learners
• Professors must create SL and non-SL options which are equivalent in time & effort and grading weight