Service Learning Puts the Community in Community College

Keith Kendrick (right) stands next to an air conditioning unit and speaks with a worker.

John A. Logan College students are involved in a number of service-learning projects that benefit Jackson County. Construction management students are currently building a Habitat for Humanity home in Carbondale, and heating and air-conditioning students are installing a heating and cooling system in another Habitat for Humanity home in Murphysboro. In addition, auto service technology students are restoring a Corvette for the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. Keith Kendrick, department chair for applied technologies, said service-learning projects are an important part of the learning process through courses in his department. "We have done a number of projects for various communities throughout the College district," Kendrick said. "We are proud to be able to give back to the communities that support this institution."

Students in the Office Technology Program at the College are working to preserve the history of Jackson County as well. Students are transcribing audio tapes of oral accounts by elderly Jackson County residents. According to Assistant Professor Dianna Reusch, students in the office technology program are assisting an individual with dyslexia who is conducting the interviews convert the audio material into hard copy. Also this spring criminal justice students completed their annual fundraising drive to help the Jackson and Williamson County Sheriffs departments purchase drug dogs.

Another service learning program in the works for students will focus on emergency preparedness. With the constant threat of severe weather and other emergencies in the area, service learning at the College will soon be focused on emergency preparedness. According to Mary O'Hara, coordinator of the College's Civic Engagement/Service Learning Initiative, the College will be encouraging service-learning projects in the area of emergency preparedness over the coming months. "We are one of four community colleges in the state participating in a pilot project sponsored by the Illinois Emergency Preparedness Pilot Project. We'd like to see a range of programs and service-learning projects developed to equip our students with the skills and knowledge to facilitate emergency preparedness efforts in their communities, and within their families and places of work," stated O'Hara. For more information on Service-Learning at John A. Logan College contact Mary O'Hara at ext. 8485.