The Community Service Learning (CSL) Program
Staff Contacts
Lisa M. McBride, PhD (she/her/hers)
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (ADDEIB)
The DICE Office
lisa.m.mcbride@dartmouth.edu
Program Contact
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College
Remsen Suite 315
Geisel.Service.Learning@dartmouth.edu
603-646-5572
Definition of Community Service Learning (CSL)
Service learning is a structured learning experience that combines community service with mentored preparation and reflection. Students provide service in response to community-identified concerns and learn about the context in which illness develops, the connection between their service and their academic coursework, and their roles as citizens and professionals¹. Students use what they learn both inside and outside the classroom to empower medically underserved communities.
The CSL Program at the Geisel School of Medicine engages faculty, staff, institutional, and community support of these activities.
¹Definition adapted from:
Seifer SD. (1998). Service-learning: Community-campus partnerships for health professions education. Academic Medicine, 73(3):273-277.
Benefits of Community Service Learning (CSL)
CSL is a mutually beneficial process. The student benefits by applying abstract concepts and theories from the classroom in real-world situations; developing a relationship with a mentor; and gaining practical experience for career path exploration, skill-building and interprofessional collaboration. The community agency benefits by addressing identified needs for clients; enhancing capacity to achieve its mission; and receiving assistance with training, research and program evaluation.
Examples of benefits to community organizations include:
- community needs assessments
- focus groups to better engage community members
- health and wellness education (health and digital health literacy promotion)
- health screenings and referrals
- basic medical services provided under the guidance of faculty mentors
- program monitoring and evaluation
The Annual CSL Symposium will bring together community leaders (students, staff, faculty, and community partners) to showcase their community engaged service projects that they worked on throughout the year. More information about the presentation is forthcoming.