February 4, 2008

Service has long been an integral component of a La Sierra University education. In fact, the third component of the school’s mission statement commits LSU students: “ . . . . To Serve others, contributing to the good of the global community.”

While traditional one-day-of-service community outreaches were part of campus life for decades, La Sierra University initiated its current service learning program in 1999. This innovative program integrates service into the curriculum of various classes offered across the entire spectrum of La Sierra’s offerings.

“One-third of our faculty teach a service learning course every year,” says Adeny Schmidt, LSU’s director of service learning. “I know of no other college or university in the US that has that level of participation.” At present, 48 courses have service learning as a key part of the academic program.

Students entering La Sierra University as freshmen are currently required to take three courses with a service learning component prior to graduation. During the 2007 school year, 790 La Sierra students provided more than 10,000 hours of service, primarily in organizations throughout California’s Inland Empire.

Corona’s Inland Empire Adult Day Health Care Center is one of 32 organizations partnering with La Sierra in service learning. Center director Barbara Porter remembers her first encounters with La Sierra University students.

“I wondered how studying ‘Religion and Rationality’ would be useful here at our adult day care program,” Porter recalls. “But our partnership with La Sierra University has resulted in special kinds of learning folks don’t usually receive.

“La Sierra’s students helped our elderly participants feel that they are still worth something,” Porter continues. “At the same time, the students gained a respect for the dignity of growing older. It was a real win-win situation.”

Last year nearly 60 students studying “Religion and Rationality” or “Human Gross Anatomy” found themselves interacting with the Corona facility’s clients, building skills and developing confidence in interpersonal relationships.

“One of our gentlemen is going blind, and is often delusional,” remembers Porter. “A young woman from La Sierra who spoke Farsi began interacting with him in his native language. He actually became much more verbal and outgoing, because his weekly interactions with her gave him so much self-confidence.”

“Some of the students talked about being initially afraid or repulsed by the people in the programs and overcoming their fears and learning to really enjoy these folks,” says Cindy Parkhurst, an instructor for the Religion and Rationality class. “One student who was very concerned about being uncomfortable with these participants found a man who loved to play chess.  Even though the man had very limited speech ability he could still play chess quite well.  The student was able to connect with this man that had not been able to participate in anything else.  The student was pre-med and was really gratified to see that he could reach this man.”

“Many students talked about the best part of the class being what they found out about themselves and what they could do to help others,” Parkhurst continues. “At the end of the class, I had several students tell me that they were continuing their schedule at the center and that spending the time with the participants gave them a tremendous sense of satisfaction.”

The Center is anxious to continue the partnership with the Service Learning program.

“La Sierra students have clearly internalized the qualities that exemplify the faith at the core of the university,” Porter affirms. “It’s who they are as people that makes the difference. To me, they exemplify ‘the best of the best.’ “

During the 2007 fall quarter, a third La Sierra University class began partnering with the adult day care program—“Jesus and the Gospels” taught by Kendra Holoviak, assistant professor of religion.

“Especially in Luke, Jesus seems particularly concerned about marginalized groups in His society,” says Holoviak.  “For this year’s ‘Jesus and The Gospels’ class, students were involved in 14 hours of service, as well as doing some additional reading and reflecting. The Adult Day Care center in Corona is one of our three community partners. Our goal is for students to enhance their understanding of Luke’s portrait of Jesus through their service-learning experience.”

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)