Implementation as a Graduation Requirement
Service Learning Advisory Board Proposal
Presented By:
Tom Rust
Kathy Kotecki
Service Learning Co-Coordinators

Service Learning enhances MSU Billings Core Purpose, Mission, and Core Values By:
• Engaging in civic responsibility
• Providing exceptional and excellent teaching
• Promoting intellectual, cultural, social and economic community enhancement
• Translating practice into knowledge
• Accepting leadership for intellectual, cultural, social and economic development beyond University Boundaries

Service Learning at MSU Billings
Service learning is an educational experience and a teaching method that focuses on learning through community projects. Projects enable students to apply academic knowledge and critical thinking skills to benefit the community while students gain a deeper understanding of course content and the importance of civic engagement.
Criteria:
 Project must be strongly connected to course objectives.
 Project is required of all students and is clearly outlined in the syllabus.
 Project benefits the community.
 Project is academically rigorous.
 Formal Reflection is deliberate.
 Formal assessment – grade is based on learning, not service.
 A goal is to promote civic engagement.

A Service Learning Requirement at MSU Billings:
Universal Opportunities and Challenges
• Opportunities
– Students
– University image
– Giving back to the taxpayers of Montana
• Challenges
– Faculty buy-in
– Student credit issues
– Investment
• Administrative
• Projects
• Staffing

Background/Research
Survey of Required Service Learning Paradigms
 General Education Requirement – Specific Classes already in Gen Ed
 General Education Requirement – Separate Category with multiple options
(credit and co-curricular options)
 General Education Requirement – Separate Category Specific Classes for
Service Learning
 Graduation Requirement with specific class options (de facto gen ed)
 Graduation Requirement – Credit/Non-Credit Options
 Major Requirement
 General Education + Major Requirement

Service Learning Credit Options
Created by the Service Learning Advisory Board
(the beginning of a campus wide dialog)
Continue building and implementing
Service Learning within courses through all colleges and departments as we currently do!

Option 1
Faculty who are currently teaching with a Service Learning Component increase the class credit by 1 (a 3 credit class becomes a 4 credit class)
Benefits
• Faculty will have more teaching time in their course
• Faculty may be more inclined to do this
Challenges
• All Service Learning might not warrant an extra credit – would add more time
• All Service Learning isn’t equal – who decides
• Budget implications (staff resources)
• Extra tuition expenses for students (if not in flat spot)

Option 2
Use the existing 1 credit ASC 297 Service Learning Course and require all freshmen to take it as part of Academic Foundations.
Benefits
• All freshmen would be exposed to Service Learning right from the beginning of their college experience
• Retention tool
• This experience could be a starting point in building many service learning experiences for them during the duration of their experience at MSUB
• Could produce a large increase in enrollment – help FTE
Challenges
• Credit loads for students – for example, COE students have no room within their courses for an extra credit
• Human/Financial Resources
• Transfer students would not necessarily transfer in with a Service Learning Course to cover this requirement
• Quality of student skills and motivation for the project
• Community partner fatigue

Add an additional credit to the ASC 101 course (College Success Strategies) so the course becomes 2 credits with a Service Learning Component – required for all freshmen
• Same as Option 2
• Same as Option 2

Option 3
Identify “Capstone” Courses in (most) majors and add an additional 1 cr. Service Learning component (this includes the COT) including a specifically non-major option
Benefits
• More advanced/higher skill set – can contribute more to community
• Students may benefit more – Community Partners get more benefit
• Most majors can do this
• 4 cr. rewards faculty effort/attract more FTE
Challenges
• How to combine with existing Co-op Ed internships
• Could be a choice
• Funding
• Faculty loads
• Staffing for Admin
• Re-defining SL

Option 4
Create a Capstone required course that is not specific to a major that has a SL component (for example
– a business student could do their SL capstone project in a course related to Public Relations if they have interest in that area); look at ways to incorporate SL into an internship (for example – an accounting student could do a 3 credit internship at KPMG and then do an extra 1 credit Service
Learning experience using their accounting skills for a non-profit).
Benefits
• Same as Option 3 plus….
• More flexible for students
• Increase FTE in SL courses
• Creates more well-rounded, employable students
• Increase student interest and motivation
Challenges
• Drawback existing internship model – internships do not equal Service Learning
• Re-defining SL
• Miss out on cooperative engagement with other students
• Expected skill set in another major is missing

Option 5
Provide the Service Learning requirement to be fulfilled throughout the students experience (not just tied to freshmen or senior year) – build on what we are currently doing and make it part of the culture of MSUB.
Benefits:
‘nuff said
Challenges:
We aren’t there yet.

Ideas for models and ways to implement Service Learning
Idea - Service Learning Strategic Planning Session in May
Deans
Dept Chairs
Current/Interested SL faculty
Service Learning Advisory Board
Community Partners