Service Learning

Beginning in January 1998, each student admitted to the Honors Scholars Program must complete a Service Learning project before "graduating" from the program. The Honors Council believes that Honors students, as leaders of tomorrow, should make a commitment to community service. You might volunteer at a local homeless shelter, work with the Lincoln School mentoring program, participate in a service project at your church, volunteer at a museum or outdoor education center, at the Park District, join a Habitat for Humanity project, serve on the board of a nonprofit organization -- the possibilities are endless.

In the Honors Program, "Service learning" is defined as a not-for-pay activity that benefits the public good. The Honors Committee has the sole right to determine whether a given activity fits this definition. This activity may be an internship such as that required by Ohio Fellows, but still must be not-for pay and for the public good.

In order to provide the widest possible range of Honors experiences, the Council urges students to be creative, and will in good faith strive to accept a great variety of activities as fulfilling this requirement. However, the Council reserves the right to reject any proposal which, in its opinion (by majority vote), does not fall within these guidelines.

The service learning activity should be completed while the student is an Honors Scholar. The committee will consider activities performed before acceptance into the program; but, in any case, the activity must take place while the student is enrolled at Sinclair.

There are two ways to satisfy this requirement:

• Take an Honors course with a Service Learning component.  Check with the Honors Director to find out which upcoming courses offer such an option.
• Use some community service that you are already doing, or will do during your time at Sinclair, to satisfy the requirement.  The Honors Council will decide whether your idea or project is acceptable.  It is recommended that you 'convert' this option into an EBE 297 course.

• participating in Project READ (a literacy program at Sinclair)
• painting a mural for a local hospital
• serving as a "loaned executive" with United Way
• helping to organize and run youth retreats for a church

Visit the Sinclair Service Learning website to view many more opportunities.