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Service Learning at DYC
What is Service Learning?
Service learning is a relatively new learning strategy that combines academic learning with community service. In a service learning course, service is as an important a part of the learning experience as classroom participation, examinations, essays, and class attendance. What differentiates service learning from volunteer work is the fact that it is integrated into course content and part of the students’ evaluations and grades. Reflection of the student’s experience related to the course content is an integral part of service learning.
Examples of Service Learning
Although a relatively new strategy to educate through hands-on experiences, service learning has been established in a variety of courses throughout the years at DYC.
"I have supervised over 125 thesis and projects, and I can honestly say that this was the very best experience for me as a faculty member and for the students involved in the project."
- Dr. Penelope Klein
- Michelle Karnes' occupational therapy students teach ceramics to children at the West Side Community Services. They have also raised funds for program materials.
- Professor David Kelly's United Nations course students run a model UN for 600 high school students.
- Professor Ruth Kelly's Political Activism students work on a political campaign for 10 hours a week. They do clerical work, deliver lawn signs, attend rallies, and conduct voter registrations.
- Dr. Penelope Klein's PT621 and PT622 sections conduct balance testing at community centers in western NY. Students gain skill in research methods and administration, protection of human subjects, content-specific clinical skills and knowledge, and liaison with community organizations. The community benefits from falls-prevention information and individualized risk of falls assessments.
- Reverend Jan Mahle's Sociology 311 students participated in an Adopt-a-Grandparent program at the Mary Agnes Manor Adult Care Facility.
Service Learning at D'Youville
A Service Learning Work Group (SLWG) leads the service learning efforts at D’Youville. April Rockwood, an associate professor from the department of Occupational Therapy is the faculty coordinator for service learning on campus. April can be contacted at 716-829-7834 or at rockwood@dyc.edu.
Other members of the SLWG include: Michele Karnes, clinical assistant professor, occupational therapy; Dr. Michele Maddox, director of retention services; Rev. Jan Mahle, associate campus minister; Robert Murphy, vice president for student affairs & enrollment management; Jeffrey Platt, associate vice president for student affairs; Dr. Judith Stanley, assistant professor of nursing; Theresa Vallone, assistant professor, occupational therapy.
D’Youville College is a member of the Western New York Service-Learning Coalition (WNYSLC), a collaboration of colleges, universities and community organizations that work together to strengthen campus-community partnerships and promote student engagement in the community. Colleges and universities that have membership in WNYSLC include:
Buffalo State College
Canisius College
Daemen College
D’Youville College
Erie Community College
Medaille College
Niagara University
Trocaire College
University of Buffalo
Villa Maria College
For more information on WNYSLC visit www.wnyslc.org. D’Youville College is also a member of the New York Campus Compact, an association of 70 colleges and universities also working towards fostering productive campus-community partnerships. For more information on the New York group visit www.nycc.cornell.edu. Information on the National Campus Compact can be found at www.compact.org.