The most frequently asked question by new students visiting the Service-Learning table at campus events is: “What is it?”

• Volunteering at local organizations?  
• A course requirement?
• An important part of many student organizations?  

Yes- to each of these and much more! Service-Learning enters the student experience in many forms, in the most wonderfully meaningful ways.

 IU East defines service-learning as “an active method of learning in which students engage in structured community service and reflect on the meaning of that service.” Learning through service and reflection- are the two equal and essential components that set service-learning apart from other educational experiences.

The Center for Service-Learning at IU East is the hub for all things service-learning.  Students with a service-learning option or requirement in their course work will meet with the coordinator to arrange a placement that matches their interests and schedule while meeting the requirements of the course. Placements often mark the beginning of a lifelong journey of service.

Not all service opportunities are unpaid. The Center for Service Learning is the home of two highly successful community tutoring/mentoring programs.  IU East tutors combine their passion for service with their academic, organizational and life skills to make a powerful difference in the lives and outcomes of area K-12 students (while getting paid!).

Service-learning through campus involvement fosters belonging and connection with other students. Service is at the heart of many student organizations, such as Circle K International (CKI), the student branch of Kiwanis Club, which is part of the Center for Service-Learning.  CKI members engage in service projects benefiting IU East students and the community at large. 

In 2024, CKI was honored to be a part of the Martin Luther King Month of Service at IU East. Members partnered with the Honors program to assemble Chemo Care Packs for local patients.

Whatever reason brings a student to engage in service:

• course requirement,
• resume building,
• meaningful employment,
• connecting with others,
• or- simply a desire to do good in a broken and hurting world- 

Service-Learning is the intersection of passion and action! To learn more, contact the Center for Service-Learning: iueastsl@iu.edu or 765-973-8411.