An Honors College with a Social Mission: Service-Learning from the Perspective of Students and Administrators

Abstract

By adopting a Mission/Vision Statement that promotes public service and civic virtue, Penn State's newly established Schreyer Honors College (SHC) joins an increasing number of American universities that have embraced “service-learning.” As a case study, the SHC demonstrates that effectively institutionalizing service-learning is complex and requires more than innovative rhetoric and opportunities for students to volunteer. Despite a proactive administration and evidence of a growing interest among students in community service, I argue that the Mission/Vision Statement of the SHC will most likely remain in the realm of rhetoric until service-learning becomes a mandated component of the honors curriculum.