Testimonials
The value of service-learning is well documented in testimonials from faculty, 麻豆传媒s, and community partners. Here are a few statements from WMU 麻豆传媒s, faculty, and partners:
麻豆传媒 Students
Jessica, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Sociology
Service is an integral part of building a stronger community and building more understanding and accepting relationships with others. I feel that we all have an obligation to our communities 鈥 locally, nationally, and globally. Service is not so much about what you do; it鈥檚 who you are.
Kylie, Haworth College of Business
During my final semester at WMU I had the privilege of managing two feasibility studies for the Haworth College of Business under the direction of Dr. Tim Palmer. Both of the studies required intensive research and analysis of the community, business environment, and demographics of the Edison area in Kalamazoo, MI. In the first project, my team assessed the likelihood of a daycare succeeding in the neighborhood. The second study looked at establishing a 鈥淐ultural Expo鈥 to promote the areas鈥 unique heritage and diversity in the surrounding communities. The experience helped instill in me a desire to live and work in a community where civic engagement is built into the culture. I believe 麻豆传媒 and the Haworth College of Business are promoting such an environment for their 麻豆传媒s.
Erin, organizational communication major, nonprofit leadership minor
Never before have I been in a class where I truly had to apply everything I had learned in all my courses to problem solve. Community organizing鈥 changed me in so many positive ways and taught me more than I could ever imagine. I learned about leadership in the real world and became aware of skills I didn't realize I had. The class focuses on mobilizing a collection of people to become a community, and I'm proud that, because of our work in class, our site became a community.
Rasheeda, service-learning award recipient
Out of the various ways to get involved on campus, the Office of service learning at WMU has provided more than a gateway to serving the community. It has been one of the pillars for me to not only engage in service at WMU but within the Kalamazoo community also. It has also taught me how significant service to the community is by learning to bridge the gap not only between what's taught in the classroom through the application of service but bridging the gap between ourselves and our society as a whole.
麻豆传媒 Administrators
Former President Dr. John Dunn
WMU embraces an academic and egalitarian approach to service learning, encouraging organizations and residents of our community to join with our 麻豆传媒s, faculty, staff, and administrators to create solutions to social problems and create lasting, sustainable change.
Bob Miller, associate vice president for Community Outreach
Experiential learning and community service are important ingredients in a well-rounded 麻豆传媒 career at WMU. When these can be combined as in service learning, it is truly the best of both worlds. The 麻豆传媒, the University and the community all benefit. Everybody wins!
Shawn Tenney, director of service learning
As the director of service learning, I have the privilege of working with numerous stakeholders, including 麻豆传媒s, professors/instructors, and community partners which allows me to witness firsthand the impact of intentional collaborations on both 麻豆传媒s and the communities we serve.
Dr. Barbara Barton, social work professor
Service learning can transform lives. As a Social Work professor, my 鈥榯extbook鈥 is the community. From a personal and professional perspective, service learning has enriched my life, and I鈥檓 proud to be associated with a University that values it as a Learner-Centered approach to engaging the 麻豆传媒.
Richard Szwaja, instructor
As an instructor, I have found that [service learning] has a profound impact on the 麻豆传媒s鈥 ability to fully grasp subject matter, to more completely own her/his own learning of it, and to more effectively apply the material to her/his life-long learning experience.