Humboldt State feels that the current resolution in response to
the Governors call for mandating community service as a requirement
for graduation only perpetuates the belief that the Governor was
speaking about a narrow definition of Community Service in which
participants perform non-curriculum linked tasks, such as picking
up trash. In contrast, we believe that the term Community Service
was meant to be interpreted broadly, thus enabling each campus to
determine its own version of Community Service. There are many forms
of Community Service, ranging from beach clean-ups to tutoring children
to political internships. At Humboldt State, many students participate
in a form of Community Service called Service Learning.
Like the CSSA, HSU has defined Service Learning as programming
that provides educational experiences under which students learn
and develop though active participation in thoughtfully organized
service experiences. These experiences, which are integrated into
students' academic curricula, are designed to meet both the service
needs of the community and the educational needs of students. They
provide students with the opportunity to incorporate knowledge and
skills gained through the University into real-life situations in
their own communities.
Through this interaction between the University and community environments,
Service Learning strives both to improve the local community and
to enhance the overall educational experience of students.
The resolution currently before the CSSA only reinforces the idea
that the Governor is speaking about a narrow definition of Community
Service and not the broader, more educationally-linked concept of
Service Learning.
