Boise State students break Service-Learning records

Broncos don’t just succeed at sports. They succeed at life too.

Last spring a record number of students participated in the Service-Learning program at Boise State University with 1,029 students contributing 25,090 hours of service to local non-profit organizations.

According to Program Director Kara Brascia, Service-Learning is practiced at more than 1,000 universities and by more than two million college students nationwide. Boise State’s Service-Learning mission says that it “exists to foster active citizenship and enhance learning through academically-based community service.” It makes community involvement an essential part of class coursework and is offered in everything from social work to chemistry classes, in every college at Boise State.

“This is the first time the Service-Learning program has surpassed 1,000 students in a single semester,” Brascia said. “It has steadily grown and our students are making a real difference in the agencies with the clients they serve.”

At Boise State, faculty and students are paired with 66 community partners on 101 service projects. Spring semester students served with many different agencies including the Idaho State Veteran’s Home, Catholic Charities of Idaho, Meals on Wheels and Head Start. The projects included youth development, citizenship and immigration, empowering and valuing older citizens and promoting literacy.

Many of the students who participate stay on with their community agencies long after their requirement for their course ends, providing more job experience and community contacts, Cathy McDougall of AARP said.

In spring 2008, 60 Service-Learning classes from 43 faculty members were offered, making Boise State’s Service-Learning program the largest in Idaho. In fact, other universities with similar programs use it as a model.

Since fall 2000 more than 10,000 students have donated more than 235,000 hours of service to the Treasure Valley through the Service-Learning program. Course listings of classes that include Service-Learning projects increase by about five courses every semester. For more information and a complete listing of Service-Learning projects, visit servicelearning.boisestate.edu or call 426-1004.

ROSANNA ANDERSON
News Journalist

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