International schools have historically grappled with the fundamental dilemma of providing a high-quality curriculum and qualification supporting international mobility, while promoting a culture of peace and understanding. The internationalist (ideological)-globalist (pragmatic) spectrum of approaches can be applied to understand this dilemma.…

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…

In the last several decades, service-learning has become a key feature of higher education. In this article, I argue that the work of Christian feminists Letty M. Russell and Sharon D. Welch enriches current scholarship on service-learning by drawing attention to foundational ethical issues. The first section of the article provides background on…

The Appreciative-Based Change (ABC) Model of Community Engagement focuses on strengthening partnerships and maximizing impact by using an appreciative approach to service-learning while addressing the challenges of community-university partnerships. The model offers phases that identify and leverage unified strengths, assets, and resources to…

As the world is evolving, higher education is too. This includes online service-learning which in the past has been predominantly delivered in formats off-line or hybrid. This article describes some best practices to make the online service-learning experience beneficial for all who are involved and accessible to more students, including students…

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…

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated new pressures for students and exacerbated their pre-pandemic stressors. One example is the impact of increased technology use upon students' mental health. Interest in contemplative pedagogy has recently grown as instructors seek methods to alleviate the worries that students carry. This piece describes a…

How do service learning and self-directed learning connect and what are the implications for early adolescent students? The authors explore both the service learning and self-directed learning literature and research to discover the connections between the two approaches and concepts. This essay reviews existing frameworks for self-directed…

A service-learning (SL) version of the Intercultural Communication course was designed in collaboration with a nonprofit refugee resettlement agency. Through the collaborative discussions prior to the start of the semester, the instructor and community partner identified the needs and possible ideas for problem-based SL projects. In the SL course,…

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…

This article describes a two-credit critical service-learning course at the University of Minnesota and its evolution to utilize both the Social Change Model and Social Action, Leadership, and Transformation models in complementary ways to support student leadership development.

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…