Student Support

Benefits

 

Participating in these experiences can benefit various individuals. The following are examples of potential benefits:

Benefits to You as an Instructor

  • Creates opportunities for new avenues for professional development (research, presentations, scholarship, and publications)

  • Promotes an increased interest in course material

  • Introduces students to different learning styles

  • Prepares students to work and/or transfer in the future

  • Promotes active learning; the ability to apply real world application of academic learning

  • Promotes student development in areas such as critical thinking, problem solving, moral development, and leadership

  • Increases course enrollment by attracting motivated students

  • Creates opportunities to network with other instructors involved in applied learning

  • Creates stronger and more meaningful relationships with students

  • Offers access to firsthand knowledge of community needs (increased awareness of community, social and civic needs)

  • Opens additional avenues for involvement in the community

  • Creates connections and future partnerships with community partners

  • Contributes to SMC’s goals, missions, values, and SLOs

Benefits for You as a Student

  • Deepens your understanding of course materials through the application of coursework materials to real situations;

  • Creates stronger and more meaningful relationships

  • Builds and strengthen critical thinking, problem solving, moral development, and leadership skills

  • Introduces you to different career paths

  • Prepares you for internships and future employment opportunities

  • Raises awareness of community, social and civic needs

  • Creates opportunities to practice interpersonal communication skills in diverse settings

  • Enriches your resume or scholarship application

  • Creates opportunities for you to network with other community members for academic and professional development

  • Creates opportunities for you to learn about diverse cultures and communities

Benefits for You as Community Partners

  • Fosters a positive and collaborative relationship between the community and SMC

  • Provides additional assistance in identifying and addressing community needs

  • Promotes a culture of citizenship and commitment

  • Creates stronger and more meaningful relationships with students and instructors

  • Creates opportunities to shape student learning about community needs, misconceptions, and stereotypes

  • Promotes new insights, perspectives and knowledge

  • Extends ability to address unmet needs

  • Creates opportunities to tap under-utilized human and material resources

  • Provides potential access to future volunteers and/or employees

  • Increases exposure to the services offered by the community partner and in general, highlights community needs

  • Fosters a sense of caring for others