Dr. Gary Meers, Vice President of Education at MaxKnowledge, Inc., discusses the role of alumni in service learning in this article by the Career Education Review.

1. The Role of Alumni in
Service Learning
By Gary Meers, MaxKnowledge, Inc.
A service-learning program can
make numerous contributions to the
working with individuals and groups
that come from diverse settings.
education of students, provide assist-
ance to communities, and sustain • Involves alumni in problem solving
connections with alumni. The goal of in the specific context of the service
service learning is a set of outcomes activity and the community.
at the conclusion of the learning Addresses complex problems in
experience. These outcomes vary for complex settings rather than in
the students, the recipients of the ser-
vice efforts, and the hosting community. A service-learning program
Service Learning Benefits for Alumni
can make numerous contri-
butions to the education of
• Transfers knowledge and skills from students, provide assistance
the classroom to the community. to communities, and sustain
Engages alumni in real and positive connections with alumni.
ways and allows them to “practice”
their skills under supervision
isolation. All this has real world
while expanding their expertise
application that can help on the job.
and enhancing their resumes.
• Promotes teamwork and citizen- • Provides critical-thinking skills to
ship. Collaboration provides identify issues and repeated oppor-
experience in the challenges of tunities to develop these skills.
DR. GARY MEERS is development. Dr. Meers started his career as a
currently the vice vocational instructor, progressing to become a
president of education at professor of education and human sciences at
MaxKnowledge, Inc. His the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has
background in career devoted his professional life to the improvement
education includes of instruction for all students.
research, consulting and
training in the areas of Contact Information:
instructor performance, Dr. Gary Meers
curriculum development, Vice President of Education
classroom management, MaxKnowledge, Inc.
student motivation, 3943 Irvine Blvd. #262
learning and assessment. He has authored over Irvine, CA 92602
100 articles and conducted over 500 workshops Phone: (888) 626-2407, x.86
on instructional improvement and professional E-mail: garym@maxknowledge.com

2. 27 Career Education Review • April 2012
• Generates emotional consequences Another form of service learning is
as individuals are invested in the advocacy. Advocacy service learning
outcomes. helps individuals or groups advocate for
themselves or their issues. For example,
• Strengthens social responsibility an advocacy service-learning project
and allows alumni to see them- working with unemployed or underem-
selves as contributors for the ployed individuals could help develop
common good. “soft skills” and “job readiness.”
Advocacy service learning helps alumni
• Builds self-confidence to seek job
learn how to work in different commu-
promotions and raises.
nity settings and develop articulate and
The categories of service learning are effective communication skills with
academic, direct, indirect, and advocacy. different audiences. It helps alumni
Academic service learning relates network with community leaders who
to specific courses that alumni may might eventually hire these grads.
assist with. Together
with the instructor, Alumni Perceptions
By making service learning assignments can be Alumni can be effective promoters
a part of the curriculum, created such as and ambassadors for their career
students will understand the coaching, mentoring, college. This assumes they have had
value of continuing this focus teaching skills, or good experiences and feel prepared to
long after they graduate. working one-on-one be successful in the work place. The
to increase student responsibility for student success and
success. The benefit to alumni is satisfaction is the focus of all those
more enhanced knowledge about involved with the institution, from
the subject matter, plus leadership admissions through career services.
and management. Faculty serves as the primary devel-
Direct service learning is a common opers of positive alumni since students
format for service learning. It provides spend ninety percent of their time
experiences and diversity of oppor- with them.
tunities at the institution. Indirect While in school, students form
service learning starts with a plan opinions about the institution and the
working with institution leaders. An level of association they will maintain
example of indirect service is when after graduation. It is essential that
graduates get involved with the state
the institute focus on earning student
association of schools and colleges and
respect by developing rapport as they
work on political action and lobbying
become alumni. Alumni will then see the
projects. It starts with a plan developed
by the school and dependent on value they can bring to the students that
political issues in the state. follow them. Recent grads understand
Alumni involved in service learning how they can continue to influence
should be encouraged to document and assist their institution.
their involvement and write up their One of the ways that this can be done
projects along with the successes and is to incorporate service learning into
challenges. All this can be used to the curriculum. By making service
enhance resumes and experience. It learning a part of the curriculum,
shows leadership skills that can be students will understand the value of
presented during job interviews. continuing this focus long after they

3. Career Education Review • April 2012 28
graduate. This mentality sets the stage can come from the students’ effort,
for keeping grads involved and con- but also see the benefits alumni and
nected with their institution. the college bring.
Alumni that are experienced in
Service Learning Using Alumni service learning can share their
Alumni that have participated in experiences with pre-service-learning
service learning while students will be students. Students get to hear from
receptive to the idea of inviting students and interact with alumni that have
to visit their work sites. Alumni can help completed service-learning projects.
identify service-learning opportunities Students get to observe graduates
in their communities. These grads that are successfully using their
know how service learning works and education to achieve
how projects are organized. This is a their career goals. Service learning is a com-
great benefit for the service-learning This interaction is
munity outreach effort that
coordinator. The coordinator can set inspiring for all those
up new service-learning projects quicker involved. Students benefits students and the com-
because the concept of service learning see individuals munity being served as well
is already understood by alumni who that are modeling as alumni and their college.
participated while students. successful career
Expanded networking opportunities growth. Alumni have the satisfaction
occur when alumni identify potential of knowing that they are helping the
service-learning sites. The college next generation of students enter
benefits from these connections as their careers.
potential placement sites. Career Career colleges have long used
services staff is constantly looking for advisory committees to provide input
new companies to contact for place- on such areas as course content,
ment. Access to networks that alumni laboratory equipment, and support
are connected to expands outreach resources. Alumni are frequently asked
opportunities. For the alumni, being a to serve on these committees. Many do
part of the college network and main- since they see their service as giving
taining an ongoing relationship with back to the college that helped them
the college expands their connections progress on their career paths. By
as well. All this increases their potential involving alumni in the service learning
for employment and career growth. outreach, their role is expanded beyond
Using alumni to identify potential advisory committee participation. This
service-learning projects and sites is allows more targeted alumni input and
valuable. Alumni live and work in their participation in the students’ service-
communities and are able to target learning projects.
the greatest need levels there. When Service learning is a community
the college seeks community service- outreach effort that benefits students
learning projects they can generate and the community being served as
support because alumni know that the well as alumni and their college.
project will meet a high level of need.
The communities realize the value that