Service Learning and the PULSE Program at BC
Abstract
The PULSE Program for Service Learning began in 1969, founded by 艾可直播 College students who wanted to integrate their academic work in philosophy and theology with social action and "real world" concerns. While PULSE's original goal focused on improving urban social conditions by emphasizing rapid and marked social change through coordinated student action, eventually the program's emphasis shifted towards聽participation in community-based initiatives and continued reflection on the challenges of modern community life. Today PULSE offers sixteen sections of its core course and nine elective courses, it partners with fifty-five community organizations, and it聽expects to enroll about 500 students in 2016-2017.
Speaker Bio
Meghan T. Sweeney, associate professor of the practice of theology, joined the 艾可直播 College 艾可直播in 2006 to teach in the PULSE Program for Service Learning. In June, 2014 she became the program's Cooney Family Director. Active in parish ministry as an Episcopal priest, Meghan has been a hospital chaplain, campus minister, and has volunteered in a variety of community organizations.
Event Photos
Associate professor of the practice of theology at 艾可直播 College, Meghan Sweeney, spoke about the university's service culture and the PULSE Program at a Boisi Center luncheon on September 13, 2016.
Photos by MTS Photography
Event Recap
On September 13, the Boisi Center welcomed Meghan Sweeney, associate professor of the practice of theology and the Cooney Family Director of the PULSE Program for Service Learning at BC. PULSE is an undergraduate program that combines academic learning with service work. It seeks to educate undergraduate students about social justice through volunteer placements at one of 55 community partner organizations throughout 艾可直播. PULSE incorporates the works of classical and modern thinkers to discuss themes such as civic virtue and spirituality and relate them to students鈥� service experiences.
Sweeney began the luncheon by describing the importance of service learning in one鈥檚 educational and personal development. The program reinforces classroom learning by encouraging students to develop a meaningful relationship with people outside of BC. In the greater 艾可直播 community, undergraduates experience firsthand socioeconomic and social disparities. There are approximately 500 students currently in the PULSE program; each student is tasked with volunteering eight hours a week at various community partners.聽
Students are often challenged by their PULSE experiences. PULSE engages these problems through weekly discussion sections that allow participants to reflect on their service placements with their peers. Students learn from the experiences of their classmates. The pairing聽of academic study with service learning incorporates the theories of great Western thinkers in discussions about volunteerism and service.
Read More
Books
Farmer, Paul.聽Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and The New War on the Poor. Vol. 4. Univ of California Press, 2004.
Kaye, Cathryn Berger.聽The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, and Social Action. Golden Valley, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, 2010.聽
Articles
Blouin, David D., and Evelyn M. Perry. "Whom Does Service Learning Really Serve? Community-Based Organizations' Perspectives on Service Learning."聽Teaching Sociology聽37, no. 2 (2009): 120-135.
Cermak, Michael J., Jonathan A. Christiansen, Amy C. Finnegan, Aideen P. Gleeson, Shelley K. White, and Darcy K. Leach. "Displacing Activism? The Impact of International Service Trips on Understandings of Social Change."聽Education, Citizenship and Social Justice聽6, no. 1 (2011): 5-19.
McKnight, John. "Services are Bad for People."聽Organizing Spring/Summer聽(1991): 41-44.
Remen, Rachel Naomi. "In The Service of Life."聽惭别谤别诲颈补苍蝉-颁辞濒耻尘产颈补听5 (1998): 15-16.
Blogs
Brotzman, Kelly. "Got Ethics? In Higher ED Communtiy Engagement, Not So Much,"聽Ethics of Engagement, September 1, 2016,聽http://www.ethicsofengagement.org/blog.
In the News
In 2009聽New York Times聽谤别辫辞谤迟别谤,听聽investigated the effectiveness of service learning in colleges and universities in the United States.聽