Service-Learning

In 1998, the Office of Service Initiatives was created to cultivate community service and integrate service into the learning experience. This office was realigned and became part of the Center for Career & Service-Learning (CCSL) in 2004. In Fall 2008, the CCSL was renamed as the Academic and Career Enrichment (ACE) Center. Among its various services, ACE provides faculty development, technical assistance, and material support for service-learning at the University.

Service-Learning Courses

Service-learning is an important part of Notre Dame’s mission. Courses that incorporate service-learning provide students with the opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom into the community in a variety of ways. Interaction with diverse groups, real life problem-solving, and multi-faceted situational complexities provide rich learning opportunities when coupled with guided reflection, class discussion, and skilled analysis relating to course content.

Service-learning courses may be offered in any discipline at the undergraduate or graduate level. Courses offered with a service-learning component are so noted in the course catalog. Students are encouraged to discuss service-learning interests with faculty members and contact ACE for resources or technical assistance.

Service-Learning Partners

Community-based nonprofit organizations work closely with Notre Dame faculty members to provide quality experiences for students in these service-learning courses. These organizations are involved in developing plans, designing service activities, orienting and/or training students, providing site-based supervision, and evaluating service-learning effectiveness from the community perspective. ACE acts as a liaison to facilitate communication and make certain organizational and logistical expectations are clear so all parties benefit from the service-learning experience. This collaborative effort ensures that there is an appropriate balance between community needs and student learning. To develop and maintain relationships with the community-based organizations, ACE actively participates with consortia, networks, and community-coordinating groups.

International Service-Learning

The first international service-learning course was successfully completed in the summer of 2008 by two students. They worked with a SSND convent in Peru. This has continued each following summer and new opportunities continually being considered to expand service-learning opportunities abroad.

Annual Service-Learning Award

Awards for outstanding commitment to service-learning have been given to a faculty member and a student each Notre Dame Day since the award's inception in 2007.