Academic Service Learning Criteria

Service-learning is a pedagogical model that intentionally integrates community service, academic learning, and civic learning. It is a response to the call for higher education to take responsibility for preparing active citizens for a diverse democracy.

Because service-learning is integrated into discipline-based academic curricula, courses from across the curriculum can take advantage of this pedagogical model. Faculty interested in developing academic service-learning courses are asked to create these courses from the perspective of how the course and the activity in the community advance scholarship and effective teaching.

In 2004, a faculty committee with the approval of the Provost established criteria for service learning course designation for The University of Texas at Austin. Officially designated courses will be listed on the Service Learning Course Listing and will be tagged in the course catalog (beginning in fall 2008).

Official Designation Process

To qualify as an academic service-learning course and be listed on the Service Learning Course Listing and in the course catalog, course information must be submitted to the Volunteer and Service Learning Center. Service Learning Coordinators will review and approve courses for designation. In addition to meeting the academic service learning course criteria, the course materials must include detailed information about the service learning component in the syllabus.

The Volunteer and Service Learning staff can assist faculty with course development and service learning logistics. Contact our Service Learning Coordinator for more information.