Service Learning for Faculty

Welcome Faculty!

The mission of the Service Learning Program is to assist MSU Denver faculty in the design and implementation of service learning, a high-impact instructional practice, and to integrate it into the curriculum across disciplines at all levels. To fulfill this mission, the Service Learning Program staff provides course design assistance, training, and administrative and other program support to faculty; develops and sustains community partner connections; and collects data on all dimensions of service learning.

Why teach a Service Learning course?

Service learning engages multiple communities in scholarly inquiry, creative activity and the application of knowledge. A key part of this mission is to enable educators with the resources and support needed to transform the classroom experience. With service learning, all participants engage in scholarly inquiry, gain professional development opportunities through experiential learning, and are better prepared to engage with their communities.

Student and Community Impact

• Identify and meet a community need
• Relate the service learning experience to core concepts
• Students reflect on their contributions to the community

Faculty Support

• Training and orientation on service learning best practices
• Structure and framework
• Faculty resources

Tracking Community Engagement

Are you already doing service learning? Let us know! Please report your service learning activities to our office. In addition to tracking your projects, we can offer support and advice on issues like MSU Denver’s Workers’ Comp policy and Liability Insurance.

Service Learning Designation

The Service Learning Designation provides official recognition for classes that meet specific criteria for utilizing the service learning pedagogy. Faculty who already engage in Service Learning activities at an unofficial capacity, or are interested in bringing service learning to the classroom, are strongly encouraged to contact us.

Community-based Research

If you and your students are doing community-based research, consider applying for the Community-based Research Fellows program. If you are doing community-based research, you may also need to obtain IRB approval. Visit the IRB website for more information.

More Resources

Visit Service Learning at MSU Denver (on SharePoint) to find resources or to contribute a few of your own.

• Funding Resources (Service Learning Mini-Grants, Designation Incentive Grants, Course Design Grants, and Community-based Research Grants)
• Class resources
• Workshop and conference news
• Related reading