Service-Learning projects in environmental engineering courses: Models of community engagement activities

Abstract

The curriculum for an introductory environmental engineering course was enhanced with the addition of Service-Learning (S-L) based projects in the community. Senior year Civil and Environmental Engineering students worked on four projects, including green roof and biomass energy considerations at a local elementary school (engaging a fifth grade classroom), water quality testing (engaging high school chemistry students), researching the environmental impacts from a proposed biomass plant in the state (engaging local citizens opposed to the project), and a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) based map project for southwest Haiti to locate and display health clinic locations for use by the area health workers. Students interacted with four different community partners, and reflected on their experiences answering questions focused on their interactions with the community partners, impacts on their learning, and personal growth as individuals. The impact of these projects transcends the 20 students who participated in the experience, as various population groups locally and internationally were affected in this process. This paper is a narrative on the development of the projects in collaboration with the community partners, along with detailed notes for faculty wishing to develop similar projects in their communities, and a summation of the lessons learned. A similar course design this academic year involves six projects with four community partners. Students and community partners will take surveys and specific metrics on the test results will be available for presentation and reporting, at the conference.