Overview

Community Service Learning is at the cutting edge of USM's commitment to engaged learning that transforms lives and communities!

As an approach to teaching and learning that "integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic repsonsibility, and strengthen communities," (National Service Learning Clearninghouse), service learning benefits students, the community, and the institution by boosting the quality of learning and addressing community needs.

For students, community service learning - whether integrated into a course for credit or as a co-curricular learning experience - teaches collaborative problem solving, critical thinking, and civic leadership.

For faculty,  theoretical and logistical support for service learning offers a  powerful pedagogical approach.

For community partner organizations serving greater Portland, our partnerships offer skilled student participants to engage in their work.

These partnerships for learning and service help us fulfill the civic promise of higher education and of USM.