What is it?

Community Service Learning (CSL) makes learning come alive by linking academic understanding to community-based experiences. Community Service-Learning is an “educational approach that integrates service in the community with intentional learning activities. Within effective CSL efforts, members of both educational institutions and community organizations work together toward outcomes that are mutually beneficial” (Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning).

Community Service-Learning can take a variety of forms, and can be either curricular or co-curricular.  Curricular service-learning programs see students involved in service projects directly associated with academic coursework.  Co-curricular service-learning is not associated with academic credit, but is complementary to what students are learning in their courses.

Through Community Service Learning: