Networking
Once placed at a community site, students work with people directly related
to the field that they are studying. They interact usually on a
daily basis with those who could be potential employers, thus providing
them with a wonderful opportunity to network future contacts for
when they are looking for full time employment. When you have graduated
from college and you are ready to go out into the world and find that job
you have always wanted, go back to the sites where you were placed and apply
for a position there. They know your creativity, dependability
and your strengths so they would be more apt to hire you rather than someone
with whom they have not worked.
Resume Enhancement
Service-learning can be listed on your resume as employment experience, and will usually spark very interesting questions during a job interview. You can also draw on your service experience for examples of situations when answering interview questions. Once you have completed your requirements, you can ask your site supervisor for a recommendation.
Clarify Career Choice
If you are undecided about your academic major, this program is a great way to get hands-on/real-life experience. It can help you decide your major before you spend at least five years of your life in college trying to make your choice. What you have learned in the classroom comes to life at any site you choose to do service-learning. If you have chosen a career service-learning can help clarify whether this is the right career choice for you.
Help the Community
The most important benefit of service-learning is that you are
helping the community. You are giving your time to help your local
Community. You are also building a stronger bond between yourself
and the community in which you live.
Flexible to Schedule
The service-learning program is Open Entry/Open Exit (OE/OE).
It is highly individualized and very flexible around your busy
schedule. Sites are generally willing to work with you in developing
a schedule meets both parties needs. Although
we encourage students to follow the semester schedule many students
extend their work from one semester to another, in order to complete
their required hours. Also, students can register up until three
weeks before the semester ends, or register early and begin their
hours early for the following semester.
Transfer to University
All of our service-learning classes are 200-level (most have a 282 prefix) and most classes transfer to all major Arizona universities as a general elective credit. See the MCCCD University & College Relations homepage for more information.
