About

Western Michigan University's Office of Service Learning was established in February 2010. Since inauguration, the office has worked to institutionalize service learning at WMU. In July 2012, the Office of Service Learning moved under the direction of the Center for Academic Success Programs, which is focused on enhancing teaching and promoting student learning through collaborative, effective research-based programs. Moving service learning under the academic success programs umbrella strategically aligns service learning with the University’s goals of being a learner-centered, discovery-driven and globally engaged institution of higher education.

Our mission

The Office of Service Learning seeks to connect and engage students, faculty and the community in projects that intentionally redistribute power, create egalitarian partnerships and generate deeper learning and civic engagement to benefit the greater community. 

Our goals

• Serve as a campus and community resource to facilitate the implementation of service learning.
• Coordinate activities between, and build community among, service learning stakeholders.
• Integrate meaningful service to enrich the learning experience, encourage civic engagement and strengthen communities. 
• Effectively match academic and professional development with community-identified needs.
• Empower students and community partners by providing opportunities to be part of the solution to community-identified needs.
• Provide equity among students, professors/instructors, community partners and those served.
• Incorporate guided student reflection to help all stakeholders identify and address biases, and provide a new framework to contextualize and better understand experiences.