Thomas B. Epps, an ’09 Mason graduate in Public Administration, attributes community-based learning to his academic and leadership development. In May 2012, he finished his Master of City and Regional Planning at Morgan State University in Baltimore. His thesis work focused on the “town and gown” topic, looking at how colleges and universities impact community revitalization in urban neighborhoods. Through his studies at both institutions, as well as his thesis work, he has realized the impact of community-based learning on students and communities. We asked him a few questions about why he believes community-based learning is so integral to one’s education.
How did community-based learning impact your academic experience?
Community-based learning enhanced my education by giving me the breadth of knowledge to understand the plight of the communities where I’ve had the opportunity to work, deepening my understanding of urban planning in order to make suggestions for change. Community-based learning helps me honor the altruistic mantle on my life.
Why do you believe service learning is important in education?
I believe that the best learning experiences happen outside of the classroom via social functions, friendships, and opportunities for service to others. For some students, community-based learning is a chance to get out of the classroom. For others, it’s a chance to take the classroom outside into the community. Leadership is deeply rooted in service. Project management is rooted in service. Public speaking and effective communication are rooted in service. Community-based learning helps students critically think about the part they can play in helping initiate and stimulate social reform close to home. For instructors, implementing community-based learning into the curriculum demonstrates the connection of classroom learning to social issues. It is also a great opportunity for professional advancement, community connection, and networking.
How do you think universities such as Mason can better serve their students, as well as the community around them, through service learning?
I believe that in order to stay current and innovative, university in the 21st century will implement community-based learning across disciplines.
Students need a transformative education experience. Employers are looking for graduates with a myriad of experiences and students need opportunities to have those experiences. Students will benefit from critical thinking and real-world understandings beyond the classroom. George Mason is an institution rooted in developing leaders to make a difference in communities and the world. Any student who is dedicated to the mission of the school, and who has adopted Mason’s vision and guiding principles, will find community-based learning exciting and enriching.
The other benefit of benefit of community-based learning is the bridging of a connection it offers between the community and the university – both for students and administration. Well-planned and implemented partnerships are mutually successful and extremely advantageous.
Could you elaborate on how you believe the surrounding community benefits from the work students do through community-based learning?
Communities benefit from the work students do through the gift of time and energy. Many neighborhoods lack the human capital - the physical and intellectual capacity to complete important projects. Whether working with the elderly population, at-risk youth, or other concerns, students contribute to addressing community issues. Through community-based learning, communities get the opportunity to have willing and able students assist with important projects.
As residents and student develop service relationships, the results are mutually beneficial. Schools, churches, social services, hospitals, planning offices, local governments, and youth programs may be open to partnerships to develop opportunities for community-based learning. The starkest urban and rural communities greatly need and appreciate having a group of scholars reach out to help a distressed neighborhood or group that may not be receiving the resources they need to thrive. Most importantly, these communities receive uplifts in morale and optimism that come with the knowledge that they are the beneficiaries of support from the larger community.
August 13, 2012
