Service-Learning Volunteerism Reboot

Abstract

How universities adapt SL varies almost as much as the number of universities that offer those programs as SL can vary from volunteerism to internships. Seventy-seven SL administrators participated in a survey on the perceptions of the U.S. colleges on the definition of SL activities. The survey results indicated the participants less likely consider an academic community engagement project as a SL when it is paid by the community partner. This chapter examines the importance of including funded community engagement scholarship in SL activities. Following the survey results, the chapter further addresses how funding from community partners may strengthen the definition of SL by introducing The Design Laboratory, The Lab, from Memphis College of Art as a case study. The Lab was a student-driven design agency that provided SL activities to the students and communities. Most of The Lab's SL activities were funded by the community partners.