About Service

According to SUNY, "Applied Learning refers to an educational approach whereby students learn by engaging in direct application of skills, theories, and models... The applied learning activity can occur outside of the traditional classroom experience and/or be embedded as part of a course." Community Service and Service-Learning are both cited as forms of applied learning, and are defined as follows:

Community Service

Volunteerism and community service performed by students for community benefit. This service can be, but is not necessarily integrated with a particular program of study. This may include structured projects (day of service), smaller group projects, fund-raising events, or individual volunteerism, which is acknowledged by the campus.

Service-Learning

A credit-bearing educational strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities.

Tracking Your Community Engagement

Students can log into GivePulse using their NetID to explore service opportunities and track their community engagement. GivePulse uses the term "impact" to encompass various forms of community engagement. For example, this includes Time (service hours), Money (funds raised), and Goods (goods donated). A full list of impact types with definitions is available here. When submitting impacts to add to your Impact Summary on GivePulse, please select the correct type of impact to best reflect how you engaged with your community.       

The Value of Getting Involved

Giving back to the community is not the only benefit to participating in community service. Students participating in both on and off campus community engagement activities also gain:

• leadership, teamwork and, career-related experience,
• access to networking opportunities, and
• meaningful experiences to add to their resume

There are many ways to get involved in community service. Opportunities range from one time events to ongoing commitments. No matter your availability, we can find a service opportunity that is right for you!