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| GSCC News Where the Classroom Meets the Real World Gadsden State Community College will be the only Alabama community college listed in the forthcoming Beyond the Books, a publication highlighting colleges and universities around the country with exemplary Service Learning Programs. Student Horizons, Inc., publisher of Beyond the Books, provides this resource book, which is geared to students who want a real world learning experience while attending college. Since its inception in 1998, the Gadsden State Service Learning Program has enrolled over 1,600 students who have contributed more than 22,000 hours of service to their communities. As one form of experiential education, Service Learning encourages students to take their academic knowledge and technical skills from the classroom into the community to serve. There, students learn through hands-on service activities that emphasize critical thinking, reflection, and civic awareness. Service Learning at Gadsden State was initiated with a two-year grant from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in 1998. A three-year mentor grant from AACC was awarded in 2000 that enabled the College to promote and assist other two-year colleges to begin or expand their service learning programs. Currently 25 instructors at Gadsden State are utilizing service learning as part of their curriculum. Students are able to contribute their time and energy to various charities and learn firsthand how helping organizations and citizens in their communities can change their lives. For more information about the Gadsden State Service Learning Program contact Beryl Odom at (256)549-8386 or bodom@gadsdenstate.edu. |