Cabrini was one of the first colleges in the country to incorporate service into the academic curriculum for credit.
The coordinator of community partnerships assists faculty and students with the logistics of community placements for courses and other academically related community service opportunities. Volunteer service activities are coordinated by the Wolfington Center.
Service Learning is a type of experiential learning that engages students in service to Cabrini and to the world as an integral part of their academic coursework.
In partnership with community organizations, students participate in and reflect upon course-relevant activities to gain:
- enhanced understanding of course content
- greater consciousness of their place in larger social systems
- increased sense of moral responsibility to the community, consistent with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the example of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
Cabrini’s core curriculum, develops a common core of knowledge and career skills, while linking theory to practice in the world.
The Wolfington Center is in charge of the service-learning component of Cabrini’s unique educational experience. Cabrini students don’t just learn in classrooms. They learn in homeless shelters, after-school programs, and community-development organizations. They learn from experts around the world through online discussions.
Faculty are able to network more effectively with community partners and expand their grasp of Catholic social teaching and service-learning pedagogy. Projects have been recognized by the greater Norristown community and even the White House for their contributions to the common good.
All of this accumulated knowledge is applied to real-world solutions to social problems, and these experiences guide students as they pursue lives of purpose and meaning.
For more information, contact the Wolfington Center at 610.902.8431 or Wolfington@cabrini.edu.