NWTC Service-Learning and Civic Engagement 2017-2018 | Page 2
WELCOME
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
It is my pleasure to share
Northeast Wisconsin
Technical College’s
2017-2018 service-
learning annual report.
This publication
highlights
just some of NWTC’s
unique service-learning
projects and community
engagement initiatives across our campuses,
learning centers, and district.
Over the past decade, service-learning
has transformed our student experience,
surrounding communities, and campus culture.
By combining organized service activities
and thoughtful reflection, service-learning
enhances students’ comprehension of course
content while providing them with real-world
experience. The impact of service-learning,
however, reaches far beyond individual
students.
During the 2017-2018 academic year,
68 NWTC faculty members – representing
every department within the learning division
– incorporated into their courses service-
learning opportunities in collaboration with
more than 120 community partners. Nearly
3,394 students worked on 275 service-learning
projects and 58 volunteer projects.
From providing health education and vision
screenings in rural Northeast Wisconsin
(page 29) and providing free tax preparations
services for low-income families (page 19),
to building a sugar shack educational center
for the Oneida Norbert Hill Facility (page 26)
and community building with local Police
Departments (page 5), service-learning
experiences bring students beyond the
classroom as they apply their education to
solving real-life problems and work together
to improve the future of our region, state,
country, and world.
AUTHENTIC
SERVICE-LEARNING DEFINED
Service-Learning at NWTC
Is integrated into and enhances the curriculum
providing an opportunity for students to apply skills
learned in their course, program, or certificate.
Is a method of teaching and learning.
Requires student reflection.
Connects learning and assessment to the real world.
Fosters civic responsibility.
Addresses a community issue and/or enhances
community development.
Is mutually beneficial to the learner and
the community.
NWTC
Service-Learning
Over the course of the 2017-2018 academic
year, NWTC students from every academic
department participated in 275 authentic
service-learning projects and 58 volunteer
projects. Together, students completed over
58,000 hours of service to the community
resulting in over $1.4 million in economic
impact*. These opportunities allowed students
to apply their knowledge and skills to positively
impact community members. Some service-
Sincerely,
learning projects were one-time opportunities,
while other recur annually.
H. Jeffrey Rafn, Ph.D.
President, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
*Based on the estimated value of volunteer time according
to Independent Sector.