How do we begin to assess the reciprocal impacts--or lack thereof--of community service on individuals and communities? Community engagement initiatives are increasingly valued as powerful educational tools and vehicles for social change. Yet, the task of measuring their outcomes remains complex. This article outlines core considerations in…

With the heavy focus institutions place on the content mastery of undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) students, qualitative skillsets equally important to the future success of STEM students, namely perspective-taking (PT), are being left at the wayside. In response, this essay will highlight reasons PT should be included…

Student-led service requires powerful partnerships with governmental, business, and community organizations to ensure access, quality, and opportunity. Never has this been more important than in the shifting landscape of higher education characterized by rapid diversification of students, enrollment and financial challenges, and questions about…

This article explores how college students' beliefs about reciprocity are shaped through community engagement, particularly in the context of community-engaged research. Recent studies highlight the central role of reciprocity in students' engagement experiences; students not only seek reciprocal relationships and meaningful impact, but also…

The article analyzes two fundamental questions that emerge as institutions of higher education seek to advance global health equity: What are the motivations driving these initiatives, and within which paradigms of engagement do they enter into collaboration with communities? An examination of the tensions and paradoxes of geopolitical paradigms…

What do students want every student affairs practitioner to know about service initiatives? This article is written by current and recent college students deeply invested in community service. The article offers a call to action to increase alignment between student needs and wants and the realities of community service programming. Serving as…

Alternative break programs have long supported student growth, community engagement, and civic learning, yet Gen Z students--many who are deeply invested in justice and activism--tend to find these programs misaligned with their values. This chapter reimagines alternative breaks through seven strategies that center justice, reciprocity, and…

This article discusses a model, created through the collaboration of two professors at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, for using children's literature to inspire service-learning during an Early Childhood pre-student teacher field placement. It defines service-learning to promote active citizenship and civic engagement for young…

Multilingual students learning English face changes in developing intercultural communicative competence outside the classroom. This Classroom Exploration, informed by frameworks of intercultural communicative competence, willingness to communicate, and cultural adaptation, explores the use of reflection comics in a service-learning course for…

A campus-wide student-formed consulting community provides an interdisciplinary co-curriculum service-learning opportunity that connects students from various disciplines across a Midwest university to work on sustainability challenges in the local community. Projects include using waste glass in construction materials, cutting carbon footprint by…

This article offers a new definition, conceptual model, and design considerations for student engagement in community service. This new approach draws on 2 years of cross-sector, intergenterational research among students, scholars, educators, community stakeholders, and service organizations. The article provides actionable insights for student…

In the face of troubling public sentiment regarding the usefulness of college, this article shares a model for incorporating intentional and sustainable community-engaged learning (CEL) into the curriculum through a yearlong professional development faculty fellowship program. The authors share their experiences moving through the training,…

Service-learning is a recognized high-impact approach in higher education that provides an accessible and valuable form of field experience for learners. A curricular framework integrating service-learning into a senior culminating experience was adapted and contextualized at a community college in Seattle to respond to needs among students who…

Community-based service learning (CBSL) is a powerful pedagogical approach for teacher education and other service-oriented training programs that integrates meaningful community engagement with academic learning. Benefits of CBSL include enhancing teacher candidates' ability to connect theory with practice, cultivating reflective practitioners,…

Student affairs practice must proactively address issues of access in the design and delivery of community service experiences. Gone are the days of presuming equitable access to opportunities. Recent research identifies significant barriers associated with financial security, familial responsibilities, time, and transportation as critical…