Dear Colleague:

Service-learning is growing at Keene State College and at colleges and universities nationally because it is increasingly recognized as good pedagogy. Students engaged in
service to their communities are not just doing good deeds, significant as that may be, they are engaged in solving real-world problems using the knowledge and skills learned in their academic programs. In many cases, they also are engaged in creating new knowledge, the essence of scholarly work. Service-learning also supports our stated Mission which includes “a mature commitment to learning and service,” and our Campus Values that include “service to the community.”

As part of our ongoing efforts to support service-learning at Keene State, we are offering faculty training workshops with useful “tool-kits” to assist you in developing service learning as it makes sense in your courses and programs. I applaud your participation and encourage you to join the growing community of faculty using service-learning to help students achieve the enduring learning that comes with using knowledge in the context of new “real-world” challenges.

I wish you the best in this exciting endeavor and look forward to reports of your success.

Sincerely,

Gordon J. Leversee
Dean, School of Sciences and Social Sciences