for California State University, Fresno.
Students for Community Service
Students for Community Service
Academic Affairs and Student Affairs
559.278.7079
http://www.csufresno.edu/scs
CHRIS FIORENTINO, Director
California State University, Fresno has a rich history of engaging students in service to the community. As part of an overall educational experience, community service learning can have a profound effect on a student's personal, professional, and academic development. For these reasons, the CSU system and our university want to make service a part of every student's educational experience.
Community Service-Learning. Community service-learning refers to any service activity that is linked to academics. This term includes volunteer activities with service organizations and service that is directly tied to academic courses, known as service-learning.
The university established Students for Community Service (SCS) to
- promote the value and benefits of community service and service-learning to the students, staff, and faculty of the university;
- foster a sense of social responsibility and civic ethic;
- provide students with meaningful and experiential learning opportunities; and
- establish service-oriented partnerships between the university, other educational institutions, and the community we serve.
To promote the value of service activities and enhance the subsequent learning experience, the university offers two community service-learning courses for academic credit. (See courses below.)
Service-Learning. Service-learning is an educational approach that involves students in meaningful community service directly related to the course's learning goals. Service-learning courses are listed in the catalog and the Class Schedule with an "S" designation. (See course numbering symbols.) Additional details can be found at http://www.csufresno.edu/sl.
Who Should Get Involved? SCS hopes you will. If you enjoy the rewards of helping someone in need and are concerned with social issues, SCS can find a place for you to share your talents with others. In return, you will experience real-life situations that can help you be successful in all your endeavors.
In addition to finding ongoing work for volunteers, SCS refers students to participate in one-time events, such as blood drives, Kid's Day, or preparing and serving meals to the homeless.
Who Benefits? Everyone! Research has shown that students who are involved in community service activities during their undergraduate years significantly enhance many aspects of their personal, professional, and academic development. Service-learning approaches within the classroom have been shown to improve student learning and to enhance faculty teaching. Nonprofit programs and citizens of our community dramatically benefit from the service work of students. Community service and service-learning provide an opportunity for everyone to gain important benefits.
The opportunity to serve the community enriched my life far more than I imagined. I donated my time and in return I gained knowledge, leadership skills, self-esteem, and great memories. Volunteering also helped me relate what I've learned in all my classes to the real world-it all ties together and makes sense now. Mitchell Casados, Fresno State Student |
The university offers two courses in which you can receive academic credit for your community service-learning experience.
COMS 1. Community Service-Learning (1-3
units)
Provides a community service-learning experience where students apply their
academic knowledge and skills to community-based issues and needs. Experiential
learning will be enhanced through class discussions and presentations on
topics related to community service-learning. CR/NC grading only.
COMS 101. Community Service Internship
(1-3 units; max total of 6 units can apply toward electives requirements)
Provides a community service-learning experience to help students develop
personal, professional, and academic knowledge and skills. CR/NC grading
only.
Note: Students are required to complete a minimum number of service hours with a nonprofit agency of their choice. The required number of service hours is determined by the course and number of COMS units. For more information, contact the SCS director or visit the SCS Web page.
Sources/Resources