 | Building Community/Classroom Partnerships Through Service-Learning
Service-Learningis a method of teaching and learning in which students fulfill the learning goals of their academic courses while serving the community. Service-learning emphasizes hands-on experiences that address real world concerns as a venue for educational growth.
Look through this site to learn more about how community organizations and groups can partner with service-learning classes or click here for a list of organizations (listed by semester) that have partnered with service-learning classes.
EveryBody Reads! and CCELL Honored with 2010 Outstanding S-L Collaboration Award
 The partnership between LSU CCELL and EveryBody Reads, a program of Volunteers in Public Schools, received the Outstanding Service-Learning Collaboration award at the 2010 Gulf-South Summit for its work over the past nine years involving LSU service-learning students in reading partnerships with elementary school children. These classes help LSU students develop an understanding of issues pertinent to inner city schools while improving literacy rates in EBR Parish, reducing dropout rates and educating college students on the need for financial resources in public education. EveryBody Reads “fosters student success for every child in East Baton Rouge Parish public schools by building support for public education.” The program assists students in grades first through third read on grade level by matching them with Reading Friends from the community.
Joe Howell of Aramark Honored as 2010 Outstanding Community Partner Contributor
Joe Howell of Aramark received the Outstanding Community Partner Contributions Award at the 2010 Gulf-South Summit for his work with Biological Engineering Professor Marybeth Lima. Mr. Howell and Professor Lima have worked together for ten years building playgrounds for East Baton Rouge Public School System. Motivated to revamp all unsafe playgrounds in Baton Rouge after his daughter was hurt on unsafe monkey bars, Mr. Howell teamed with Professor Lima to work with elementary students and college students enrolled in Biological Engineering 1252 to build playgrounds in the Baton Rouge area. Professor Lima said, “I respect Joe Howell’s Immense knowledge, pragmatic approach, and unparalleled integrity in every aspect of his job.”
Connections for Life Honored as 2008 Outstanding Community Partner
 Connections for Life, a nonprofit agency providing opportunities for indigent women to become independent and productive members of the Baton Rouge community, won the 2008 Gulf-South Summit Award for Outstanding Community Partner Contributions to Service-Learning for its exceptional work with LSU English students. Since 2001, LSU service-learning students in Sharon Andrews’ First-Year Writing and Introduction to Poetry classes have worked alongside women in the Connections for Life program. In their classroom, they read related poetry and then write, reflect, and discuss their experiences. |