Embracing service learning: Education beyond the classroom

At the University of Cincinnati, the boundaries between the classroom and real world often overlap. Service-learning classes integrate academic learning with community service. Unlike traditional forms of education that primarily focus on transmitting knowledge within the confines of four walls, service learning offers students the opportunity to apply their learning to real-life situations while addressing genuine community needs and fostering civic responsibility and personal growth.

Service learning is not merely about volunteering or completing community service hours. It is a pedagogical approach that intertwines meaningful community service with academic instruction, reflection, and critical thinking. Students engage in service activities that are directly connected to their academic curriculum, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of course content while making a tangible impact on society.

Megan Church-Nally, PhD, associate professor – educator in the College of Arts & Sciences, taught the service-learning class last year: Fundraising and Donor Relations (ORGL 3041), and served as the faculty advisor for senior capstone projects in ORGL 5000. Students learned about the basics of fundraising, managing donor relations, and diversifying income portfolios to mitigate the impact of fluctuating donations. Then they were required to apply this knowledge in the real-world by fundraising for a nonprofit.

At its core, service learning comprises four essential elements: meaningful service, academic integration, reflection, and reciprocity. “Emphasis is placed on developing interpersonal skills and building lasting relationships with donors,” said Church-Nally. “The courses I teach aim to equip students with the knowledge and abilities needed to become effective fundraisers and key contacts for their organizations.”

Students in Church-Nally’s fundraising and donor relations classes carried out donation or fundraising drives for Rockdale Academy, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, Tikkun Farms, and Bearcats Pantry. Most of these students completed additional fundraising events as part of their senior capstone which benefitted animal rescues, children experiencing homelessness, a global nonprofit, a nonprofit focused on encouraging girls in music, and two youth focused nonprofits. In total, they raised over $9,000 and made a huge impact on the local community, but they also gained resume-building experience, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills.