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Service-Learning vs. Volunteerism: Both Important, Each Different

Fresno, CA - During the early days of the Service-Learning program established by the Marketing and Logistics Dept. at the Craig School, there was considerable confusion among both students and the Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) for which they worked. Because the concept of Service-Learning was relatively new, each assumed that it was just like volunteerism.

To eliminate the confusion, Dr. Skip Sherwood, Professor Emeritus and creator of the Service-Learning Program at the Craig School, wrote several papers to explain the differences and circulated them among students and CBO. However, as new students and CBOs come into the program each year, confusion often reasserts itself. The difference is relatively simple:

"Service-Learning is a method under which students learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service experiences that meet actual community needs, that [are] integrated into the students' academic curriculum or provide structured time for [reflection, and] that enhance what is taught in school by extending student learning beyond the classroom and into the community.” (Corporation for National and Community Service, 1990). In short, students take what they are learning in their marketing class and apply it in a practical manner that meets the needs of CBOs.

Volunteerism engages students in activities where the primary emphasis is on the service being provided and the primary intended beneficiary is clearly the service recipient.

In short, Service-Learning benefits both the service recipient and the students.

The benefits of service-learning are varied and many. Benefits accrue to students, faculty, the school, and most of all, to the community. While service-learning has been integrated into different academic curriculums, many schools of business have been slow to incorporate this experiential form of education.
So, why should it be part of the business curriculum? The mission of the Craig School of Business emphasizes the fact that it wishes to be recognized as an outstanding "applied" business school. In order to achieve the goal, the school is committed to continually finding ways to allow students to learn by practical application. Internships may be the ultimate application of classroom knowledge, but this may be insufficient or impractical for all students. The Craig School found another and very important way for students to learn by application while simultaneously serving the community - Service-Learning.

For more information about Service-Learning and Volunteerism, read the article “Why Service-Learning.”.