UM Celebrates Service Learning Course Designation

In conjunction with the National Learn and Serve Challenge Week and the Associated Students of University of Montana's (ASUM) formal endorsement of the Service Learning course designation, the Office for Civic Engagement (OCE) held a Service Learning & Volunteer Kickoff. University of Montana President George Dennison, who is also president of the Campus Compact Board of Directors, spoke about the history of the Service Learning course component, as well as the importance of student action at the University.

Mason Giem, Campus Corps Volunteer & Events Cordinator at the OCE, collected an estimated number of hours that UM students have contributed to the community. Combining the hours from internship services, ASUM groups, and OCE, Mason found that 107,904 hours of service work have been completed over the past year, totaling $1,457,783.

Polly Pillen, Campus Corps Service Learning Liason for the OCE, spoke about the unprecedented Service Learning course designation. There are currently 15 designated Service Learning courses being offered at UM and additional courses will be added this spring. This designation increases the visibility of the service learning that is already being done on campus, while giving students the opportunity to earn credits for their service work.

This event was also a kickoff for the year of volunteering here at the University of Montana and a promotion of the OCE's new "Service Saturdays" student volunteer group, which gives students the opportunity to get a taste of local non-profits through one-time weekend service events.