Community College Student Attitudes Related to Service Learning

The fourfold purpose of this study was to determine if (1) student attitudes toward community service, (2) student attitudes toward civic involvement, (3) student attitudes about life skills, and (4) student attitudes toward civic engagement and service learning differed based on enrollment in a course with a service learning component or enrollment in a course without a service learning component. A related purpose for students enrolled in a course with a service learning component was to determine if the service learning component had an impact on students' future educational or career plans. The study was conducted at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona using two groups enrolled in an English 102 course: (1) 23 students (10 males and 13 females) with service learning, and (2) 16 students (8 males and 8 females) without service learning. Research questions were answered using an academic course evaluation questionnaire, student life skills self-evaluation, a writing sample, and reflection papers (service learning only).