SUNY Old Westbury's signature program CALL offers students opportunities for community and civic engagement.
Benefits
Community engagement, service learning, also known as experimental learning, or community-based learning combines learning objectives with meaningful community service. It is a way of teaching and learning in which students use knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs. The focus is hands-on education, learning by doing, impactful learning experience, understanding civic responsibility and strengthening communities.
Students will develop the leadership skills, political awareness, and civic literacy by:
- Improving problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills;
- Critically analyzing the root causes of local challenges;
- Exploring alternative solutions to those challenges;
- Confronting political and ideological barriers to change;
- Weighing the merits of legislative or other political strategies;
- Collaborating with community members and observing and understanding the internal operation of organizations and non-profit.
CALL Expectations
- Learn to actively listen to one another;
- Deliberate critically about problems and issues;
- Arrive at solutions mutually and;
- Work together to implement solutions.
Students will gain important skills for the increasingly team-oriented 21st century workplace while upholding the following expectations:
- Be prompt, respectful, and positive at the community placement;
- Fulfill agreed-upon duties and responsibilities;
- Provide feedback on the experience's relevance to course material;
- Engage in course discussions and learn about diverse cultures and lifestyles;
- Practice effective and professional communication skills;
- Respect confidentiality and participate in evaluations.
Furthermore, CALL connects students to paid off-campus community service fellowships, encouraging deeper involvement and fostering leadership in community-based initiatives while empowering student to take on impactful leadership roles.