Ashland University developed the opportunity for students to receive credit for service learning through the Elective Service Learning Program. To earn this credit, students must use service to enhance the skills learned in the classroom by applying it to real life situations in the community.

In order to ensure high academic quality and standards, students must complete a Service Learning Contract with their course professor before registering for an additional credit. During the introductory semester, nine students received the additional credit. The following excerpt, describing the Elective Service Learning Program, was taken from the Ashland University 1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog:

University Criteria

1. The service learning experience must be tied to the academic content of the course with which it is taken. The professor of the course must be involved in the development of the learning contract, and the contract must state how the learning objectives of the service learning activity coincide with the learning objectives of the course. An example of how this might look on a transcript:

2. The service learning activity must include the following core elements:

1. Orientation and Training - learn the responsibilities and how to perform actual service work; gather information on the service site, their need, and individuals intended to be served; and understand about the social/contextual issues related to service
   
2. Meaningful Service - engaging, challenging, and meaningful for the student; directly related to the course work; reinforcing and challenging student perspectives; and enhancing critical thinking skills
   
3. Structured Reflection - integration of service, related learning, and academics with one s future role in community; on-going education on general issues related to service; and clarification of values as the student confronts new situations,

3. The service learning elective credit hour can be evaluated on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis or by letter grade.

4. A student may receive a total of no more than 3 service learning credit hours and only one credit hour per course. A minimum of 30 hours of service is required for one credit hour.

5. The service learning elective credit may be applied toward a major when a student has the permission of the Department Chair and the Dean of that College.

Elective Service Learning: http://www.ashland.edu/commserv/servicelearning.html