Some Facts About the Service-Learning Program at Oakton Community College

In 1996, in response to a growing concern about what we saw as the disengagement of our students from their local communities, we began to build a service-learning program at Oakton Community College.  We saw service-learning as a strategy for helping students to learn important lessons, not only about the content of their college courses, but more specifically, their responsibilities to the communities in which they live and work. Our efforts were furthered when we were selected by the American Association of Community Colleges to participate in a national project -- "Broadening Horizons through Service-Learning."  We are one of ten community colleges nationally to be selected;  other schools include Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA; Tidewater Community College, in Virginia Beach, VA; Gadsden State Community College, in Gadsen, AL; Century College, in White Bear Lake, MN; Skagit Valley College, in Mt. Vernon, WA; Nunez Community College,  in Chalmette, LA; Iowa Western Community College, in Council Bluffs, IA; Richland College, in Dallas, TX; and North West Arkansas Community College, in Bentonville, AR. Here are some statistics on our growth:   Year 1 (1996-1997) Year 2 (1997-1998) Year 3 (1998-1999) Number of Students involved 24 120 400 Number of Faculy involved 2 8 18 Number of community agencies involved 18 50 125 Number of individuals affacted by the services 250 900 1020

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For any further information about Service Learning, please contact
srvlearn@oakton.edu
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Copyright & copy; 2000 Oakton Community College. Last update Summer 2000