APSA Teaching & Learning Conference
Track 6: Service-Learning
Sarah C. Stiles, American University
Lenora J. Stiles, American University
February 20, 2005
The S.P.A. Leadership Program:
Using Service-Learning to Prepare Students for Future Community Roles
The 21
st
century has dawned with many of the same social problems that
seemed intractable in the previous century. The need for socially aware,
sensitive, well-informed citizens is as important as ever. Grooming the next
generation to make sound, ethical decisions is of the utmost importance and
political scientists have a unique opportunity, indeed responsibility, to
meaningfully educate future decision makers. Service-learning is at the
intersection of intellectual reasoning, the responsibilities of citizenship, and
action. It is a hybrid of experiential learning and community service.
1
American
University (AU) champions the cause of service-learning in its motto “ideas into
action, action into service.” The Leadership Program in the School of Public
Affairs (SPA) at AU emphasizes servant leadership as students prepare
themselves for public service. Service-learning is the natural complement to
servant leadership.
The purpose of this paper is to share our experience framing the freshman year
of leadership development in terms of community service. The paper begins with
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Campus Compact Glossary
http://www.compact.org/aboutcc/glossary/glossary.html#servicelearning