It depends. Just as the length of a research paper varies from course to course, so too does the amount of service. As a rule of thumb, the more often a student goes to the community site, the more benefit is derived from the service experience. Typically, it is recommended that students contribute 2 hours each week for ten weeks for a 3-credit course. However, the service component may be designed to occur less frequently, depending on the needs of the community agency or the learning objectives of the course (Hatcher, 1998).

Hatcher, J.A., Ed. (1998) Service-Learning tip sheets: A faculty resource guide, Indiana Campus Compact: Indianapolis, IN.

Contributed by JoAnn Campbell, Community Outreach and Partnerships in Service-Learning, Indiana University.