Are You Proud Crow?

President Michael Crow of ASU has coined the term “New American University” to be an “egalitarian institution committed to academic excellence, access, and maximum societal impact (Crow, 2010, p.36). Many goals for institutions of higher education are to prepare students to become active citizens in their society. The effort of ASU to shift academic skills into involvement and impact in communities locally and globally is enhanced through service learning academic programs that are instated at ASU. Service learning is a teaching tool that links academics and real life problem solving. It can be used in any discipline to allow students to recognize the connection between their studies and community issues that affect them or others.

Each semester approximately 300 ASU students engage in a service learning course where they are responsible for committing to 100 hours of service, weekly reflections and readings, and weekly course discussions discussing social justice and public policy. As a teaching assistant for the USL classes and a manager of tutoring programs where USL students can choose to do their service, I personally believe (without bias of course) that ASU has one of the best service learning programs. After doing much research and comparison of service learning programs in American universities, it is clear that ASU holds higher expectations for their service learners and provides the correct techniques for using the service as a teaching method.

Many service learning programs do not focus intently on an academic curriculum for their service learners. They figure the learning will develop through life experience and minimal reflection. ASU’s service learning exclusively classifies service learning as a teaching tool to and all USL classes must include the crucial act of critical reflection, analysis of their service and how it relates to their studies, future careers, and social justice issues. In addition to their weekly obligations to their chosen service placement and course assignments, students are required to actively participate in a classroom seminar once a week. Due to the highly controversial nature of many of the social justice topics, the weekly classroom seminars are essential for a student’s growth and reflection. This hour and half offers a time for students to question the material, hear opposing arguments from different perspectives, and deliberate on how society should function.

As an undergrad I took a University Service Learning (USL) course that either put me on the path or reinforced my path to public service. I addressed my deep seated biases and reflected upon my privilege. Because of this, I think I am a more conscientious citizen and open minded adult which I imagine was what President Crow was looking for.