Service Learning

King's College produces students who are both intellectually prepared and socially responsible. In the words of King's founding President, Father James Connerton, "King's teaches students not only how to make a living, but how to live." To reach these goals, King's stresses active student learning that is vitally concerned with the community.

Service learning integrates academic learning with hands-on community service that makes students more socially informed and active. A course-based pedagogy, service learning allows students to get a more meaningful understanding of their studies while simultaneously helping the community. Ideally, students go back and forth in a circle: applying what they learn in their classes in the community, using their service as a basis for further learning in the course, and back again.

Although service-learning may take on many forms, all service-learning classes share three primary characteristics:

1. Meaningful and Relevant Service: Service is related to the course, allows students to learn, and is needed by the community.
2. Enhanced Academic Learning: The service is actively integrated into analysis of the course's subject matter, whether in lectures, exams, presentations, discussions, and/or reflections.
3. Active Promotion of Social Awareness and Responsibility: The students learn about the social context of the service they do, e.g., why the service they do is necessary. 

Local Opportunities

If you are interested in any of these placements, please email Bill Bolan at williambolan@kings.edu.

Commission on Economic Opportunity

Low-Income Tax Preparation (VITA Program) -The Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) has a service-learning opportunity in their low-income tax preparation program. Interested classes and students can assist CEO clients in completing their tax returns throughout the Spring. If interested, CEO will direct students to an online training packet; additional training is done on-site. Students must achieve an 80% or higher on a test before participating. This would be a wonderful service-learning placement for classes dealing with economics, accounting/finance, poverty, and many others.

Ruth's Place Women's Shelter

King's College, Ruth's Place Shelter, and New Roots Recovery Support Center have started a program to help women and men find employment. The program enlists King's students to help people develop skills for computer job searches, resume prep, and interviewing.

Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement of Northeast PA is looking for service learning students for two separate programs:

1. In-School Financial Literacy Modules. After a brief training by JA, volunteers teach five (5) forty-five minute sessions to children in local school districts. Students may select the school and grade of their choice, and all materials and lesson plans are provided. Students may teach in pairs if they desire. With trainings, preparation and teaching, about 10 hours total is required.
2. Biz Town and Financial Park. Volunteers are needed to run JA's special "park" that teaches elementary students about basic financial management. This million-dollar facility in Pittston is kid-friendly and children have a wonderful time! Elementary students come on Saturdays for a 3-4 hour session. A brief training is provided to volunteers beforehand. With the training and session, about 5 hours total is required.

Habitat for Humanity

Students are need to help with build sites on Saturdays in the spring. In addition to working on the site, volunteers will receive a special presentation on the work of Habitat. Lunch is provided free by local restaurants. Approximately seven (7) hours total required.

Afterschool Programs

Both the McGlynn Learning Center (at the Boulevard Townhomes) and the Center of the Village Afterschool Program (South Wilkes-Barre) are looking for service-learning students to help with homework and tutor children in grades 1-8. The McGlynn Center operates Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The Center of the Village is open Tuesday through Thursday from 3;30 to 5;30 p.m. All clearances will be paid for by King's College.

Other Examples

• Studying education by tutoring under privileged school children
• Studying business ethics through volunteering at a consumer credit counseling organization
• Learning HTML by creating a website for a local nonprofit
• Honing research skills by interviewing homeless persons and compiling the results for a new shelter
• Mastering a science module by teaching it to a middle-school class
• Practicing Spanish by providing basic translation skills for a social service agency
• Learning about the effects of aging working with guests at a nursing home

Funding for Service Learning

King's College makes funding available for every service learning course taught at the College. In keeping with the practice at other regional institutions, King's awards $40 per enrolled student the first time a service learning course is taught, and then $20 per student thereafter. There is no limit on the number of semesters a course may receive funding.

Any professor interested in receiving funding should submit the required form by October 3.  Previously funded courses only have to submit basic course information (see form).

• Designation and Funding Application
• Service Learning Definition

As always, the Shoval Center would be happy to help you design and implement a new service learning course. Please feel free to contact Bill Bolan (ext. 8058) with any questions about course development or review the Faculty Resources below.