ASU: Academic Service University
I propose ASU adds a requirement for all students to adopt a community (NGO, neighborhood, school, business, etc.) while enrolled at the university. During each semester students will prepare papers and projects addressing the needs of the community. I propose this provides the following benefits:
- Student’s work has a greater opportunity to influence the community
- Student’s work is influenced by the feedback provided by the community
- Community Engagement: Practical extension for the theory developed in class (idea of praxis)
- Potential job opportunities post graduation
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary research between students
- Pay back public investment of education
- Advance the concept scholarship beyond the classroom while creating new academic metrics of service
- Learn the meaning of service which cannot be taught in school
ASU: “Empowering Future Leaders through Service”
I really like this idea. I think you could even expand the idea to include adopting issues. Each year, I volunteer all over with different groups, but they always have the central theme of literacy and reading promotion. If students were allowed to choose an issue, they could gain a deeper understanding of its challenges and triumphs in local and global communities.
Maybe you should petition ASU to make at least 1 service credit a mandatory class for graduation.
This is an interesting idea. What if every semester was different? So, you serve a high school one semester and a homeless shelter the next and a small business the next.
Zach W,
Interesting thought, however, why not add community service requirement to all degree programs and allow students to choose what neighborhoods they serve?
Better, yet my Junior & Senior years at the local public high school in West Phoenix could have been utilized in such a manner as one dual enrollment at the local community college and/or direct community service in my 'hood'. Could you imagine not only an admission requirement of ASU is community service hours, but also a high school graduation requirement?
I knew of many seniors in my neighborhood that needed someone to help with yard work and maintenance. Also, imagine local businesses supporting high schools in their area by paying the school to have students paint over graffiti?
I believe authoring papers on community needs is one thing, however, a far more rewarding approach would be to have students get their hands dirty.
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