Service-Learning Program
Service-learning is an important component of Presentation College's extended mission statement. All candidates for the associate and baccalaureate degrees at Presentation College must satisfactorily complete the required and approved service-learning projects with a recognized, official community organization.
- Associate degree students are required to complete one service-learning project
- Baccalaureate degree students are required to complete two service-learning projects
- Students who transfer in 60 or more credits are required to complete at least one service-learning project
Service learning is an embedded part of the curriculum in GE411 Professional Development, HMS422 Human Services Project, NB462 Community Health Nursing, RS293 Christian Ethics. Successful completion of one of these classes satisfies an associate degree-seeking student's service learning requirement. Baccalaureate degree seeking students who successfully complete one of the aforementioned classes will satisfy one of the service-learning requirements.
This requirement is intended to provide students with an opportunity to serve their community, apply knowledge gained in the classroom and become informed, active, responsible, and ethical citizens. Service-learning is different from volunteerism. It is anticipated that through these projects and reflection students will enrich their understanding of the gifts and opportunities they have been given in life and that all persons have an obligation to give back to their communities. Students are placing their gifts and talents at the service of others with no expectation of monetary reward. These interactions add to the richness of the student-learning experience and provide occasions for reflection on life and its meaning. It is our belief that in serving others, we serve God.
Service-learning objectives:
- Connect meaningful service, relevant academic work, and critical reflection
- Apply knowledge and skills to specific service projects
- Grow and develop academically, spiritually, and civically
Students who are granted transfer credit for RS293 Christian Ethics will be granted credit for one service-learning project. Students who transfer an ethics courses without a service-learning component will be granted credit for RS283 and must register for SLC000 Service-Learning or one of the other courses listed above with an embedded service-learning project to meet one of the required service-learning projects required for graduation.
Any student enrolled in a course that integrates a service-learning project must earn a passing grade for both the academic course and the service-learning project to pass the course and fulfill a service-learning project. Failure of the service-learning project results in automatic failure of the entire course in which the project is embedded.
Students can fulfill a service-learning project in two ways:
- Successful completion of RS293 Christian Ethics
- Successful completion of an academic course with an integrated service-learning project. Some academic majors require specific coursework, internships, or other activities that may fulfill a service-learning project. Students must pass both the academic course requirements and the service-learning project to fulfill a service-learning project. Current approved courses are:
GE411 Professional Development
HMS422 Human Services Project
NB462 Community Health Nursing
RS293 Christian Ethics
SLC000 Service Learning Project
Students may be concurrently enrolled in two of the above courses to fulfill the graduation requirement if permitted by requirements set for individual academic majors. In this instance, students must complete two separate projects in the same semester. If a student is enrolled in the same semester in two courses with an embedded service learning project, the same 10 hours cannot be used for both classes. The student must complete 20 hours total, and these may be at separate organizations or the same service site. Essays also should be unique to each class, addressing the particular service through the themes of that particular course.