Terri Schrantz, SE assistant professor of sociology and psychology, offers a few tips on community service.
Q. What is community service?
Community service is the giving of one’s time and talent to an organization in order to benefit the community in some manner.
Q. Why is it important for college students (especially transfer) to have community service experience?
Universities and corporations look for applicants who have demonstrated that they care about the social collective. Community service moves students from the consciousness of Me to We, and that shift in awareness often makes a difference between a life lived by ego and a life lived by positive contributions to the social good.
Q. What is the difference between service learning and community service?
Service learning is basically the same as community service but with one very important addition. The service learning is tied to course content. Reflection and critical thinking are essential, and students process deeper, understand better and make more meaningful connections with both the course work and the experience.
Q. What groups or organizations at TCC or outside the school would you recommend students join if they want to get involved in community service?
I don’t recommend one in particular as it is my belief that students benefit more if they are empowered to choose one for themselves.
Q. How important is having community service experience to the college graduate when applying for a job?
Community service helps make students stand out from those who haven’t attained that experience.
Q. Do you have any other advice for students seeking service learning credit?
The choices students make now help create the future, and my advice is to choose wisely and well for all of us.