The term “service learning” wasn’t formally adopted
at College of DuPage until 1996, although this type of hands-on learning
was in full swing two decades earlier. In the late 1970s, College of
DuPage students successfully renovated a house in Chicago. Soon after,
service-related projects started to become an important learning tool
for many of the college’s sociology and humanities courses.
It wasn’t until 1996, however, that this experiential method of
learning was formally identified as “service learning” by
the college. To assist faculty members with the process of integrating
service learning projects into their course curriculums, the college
then formed a Service Learning Committee. In addition, the college applied
for and received a “Bridges to Healthy Communities” grant
from the American Association of Community Colleges and the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention. This four-year grant and partnership
laid the foundation for a strong working relationship with the DuPage
County Health Department, which the college continues to foster and
maintain today.
In 1998, College of DuPage provided the Service Learning program with
a grant from its Major Institutional Initiative fund. This grant has
been used to increase service learning opportunities at the college
and has also assisted with:
1. The renovation and provision of office space for the program in the
Career Services Center.
2. Continued promotion of service learning projects to select faculty
groups.
3. Further study of methods for supporting service learning proposals
outlined by faculty members.
The Center for Service Learning was established in 2000 with a three-year
grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The center
was established to introduce the service learning teaching methodology
to College of DuPage faculty and to serve as the focal point for providing
classroom-based community service opportunities for students. Because
of its success, the center became an official part of College of DuPage
on Sept. 1, 2003.
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