Service Learning

Lisa Bowers
Director of Service Learning
Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy
479-575-3267
lmbowers@uark.edu

Website: servicelearning.uark.edu

Email: svclrn01@uark.edu

The Service Learning Initiative

The Service Learning Initiative is a joint initiative between the University of Arkansas Provost Office, the Honors College, and the Division of Student Affairs. Service learning builds critical thinking skills while engaging in academic courses that promote experiential, community-based activities.  Formalized service learning courses must meet the committee-approved service learning definition and criteria, and be approved for designation by the Service Learning Committee. 

Service Learning Definition

Service learning is a credit-bearing, faculty-directed, learning experience that is course specific. Service Learning strengthens academic content knowledge and sense of civic responsibility. Students build critical thinking skills as they engage in experiential, community-based activities that are aligned with and integral to academic course work. At the same time, the community (real people in real situations) benefits from assistance that would otherwise not be available.

Courses Page

Students can visit the Service Learning program course page to find courses that have been designated service learning. Faculty can find criteria to develop courses that will be considered for designation as service learning courses.

Service Learning Steering Committee

  • Lily Mank, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design
  • Raquel Castro Salas, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
  • Sean Connors and Heather Young, College of Education and Health Professions
  • Kevin Hall, College of Engineering
  • Donia Timby, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
  • Rogelio Garcia Contreras, Sam M. Walton College of Business
  • Jen Caba , Student Success at the CORD
  • Megan Hull, Honors College
  • Annie Smith, School of Law
  • Donna Jones, Center for Community Engagement
  • Aysa Galbraith, Teaching and Faculty Support Center
  • Ellen Urton, University Libraries
  • Laura Gray, Gulf-South Summit Executive Committee Representative