SUNY Erie in the Community
Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. It connects students to the community by integrating academic curriculum with active participation in service. It provides real life, hands on learning, while extending the classroom into the community. These opportunities provide students the ability to identify and experience real world situations and acquire the habit of critical thinking.
It is the mission of the Service Learning Department to create structured opportunities for students through projects and activities which bridge the gap between the classroom and the community. These opportunities are designed to instill the spirit of community and promote an overall sense of global citizenship, shared responsibility and pride for students.
The connection of academic content to community based projects is a vehicle to engage students in the vitality and future of the Western New York region. Through these activities students can begin to explore and address challenges and solutions within their educational programs. The process of Service Learning does not end with the completion of projects. It provides a vessel for a transformational process where students, educators and communities continue to grow in unison.
If you are interested in information regarding our Service Learning Program, or would like to discuss possible community engagement opportunities, please contact us.