Benefits of Volunteerism: From Extracurricular to Service Learning and Beyond

Abstract

AbstractFaculty continue to support extracurricular activities, co‐curricular activities and service learning for the long‐term student's benefits that outweigh obstacles present in community engagement. This case study describes relationship building between a community partner and an interior design programme through extra‐ and co‐curricular activities which led to more robust projects for service learning and engaged research. The programme was able to initially engage students with the community through a student volunteer charrette led by the student organisation. This extracurricular service activity resulted in continued engagement with one invested undergraduate student through a faculty‐supervised independent study that centred on research for the design of place‐based recovery spaces. The student and faculty continued to work with the organisation for ongoing spatial needs after the semester, including an abrupt re‐thinking of the space due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The narrative analysis of the case will demonstrate the benefits, challenges and impact of extra‐ and co‐curricular engaged activities as well as advocate for best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion to be explicit within existing frameworks for service learning.