Developing Students' Management Skills through Service Learning

Abstract

Some academic institutions address the decline in citizenship behaviors and awareness among young Americans through service learning programs. Service learning is a form of experiential learning that combines learning with community service. Such programs are designed to promote students' learning, stimulate academic performance, develop social responsibility and benefit the community. The following paper describes a service learning project in a Hotel Administration course at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas that demonstrates how service learning can be successfully integrated into the hospitality curriculum. Data from student reflection papers about this service learning project are offered as evidence as to how this project influenced the development of students' management skills.