Serving and Learning Together
The SALT Program enables you to learn true civic engagement as you address real-life needs in your community.
Take your passion for helping others to new heights. Progressive learning combined with service will allow you to engage and empower those who need you most.
Lipscomb students have a strong history of serving the local and global community. The SALT (Serving and Learning Together) Program takes this commitment to the next step by using service to act as a mechanism for learning. Service learning is the bringing together of academic concepts and service experiences where you'll increase your academic understanding, spiritual development and civic awareness.
By pairing classroom learning with service experiences, service learning demonstrates how we can use our God-given skills and abilities to meet real needs that exist in our community. These service learning experiences provide great opportunities for you to apply what you are learning to real world problems. These experiences are great additions to resumes and give a wider variety of experiences to reference in job interviews.
Contact Us
The SALT Project was developed for Lipscomb University’s Quality Enhancement Plan as a part of its reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges. SALT is an academic service-learning program providing you with the chance to enhance academic understanding by applying knowledge and skills in service projects that benefit the community.
Collaborative work with community partners is vital to the success of The SALT Program. Our hope is that collectively, through these service-learning experiences, we all will have greater capacity to create positive change in a community where we all reside.
SALT is our plan to integrate service learning into your educational experience as a traditional undergraduate student. A strategy for developmentally enhancing student learning, SALT allows you to connect your academic experience and spiritual development with significant engagement in the community.
Because we expect you to engage in innovative and rigorous academic experiences, and because of our shared belief that a Christ-like attitude calls for service to others, traditional undergraduate students will be expected to complete two service-learning experiences before graduation.
Our intent is to establish partnerships and develop service learning projects that are equally beneficial to our community partners and Lipscomb students and faculty, where students and faculty are intentional about understanding your work, your agency and your clients.
Benefits include:
- Increased organizational capacity
- Enhanced services to clients
- Opportunity to identify future employees, volunteers and donors through work with Lipscomb students, faculty and staff
- Opportunity for publicity and future partnerships
Built into The SALT Program is a plan for assessing the satisfaction associated with service learning experiences and the effectiveness of service learning projects. The SALT Center is a resource for community partners to brainstorm service learning ideas and troubleshoot if challenges arise. The SALT Center is also a resource for information, training and preparation for service-learning projects and opportunities. If you are interested in learning more about a service-learning partnership with Lipscomb University, contact Melissa Swann, program director, at 615.966.7225.
Service learning is distinctly different from volunteerism. In service learning, the service experience is the vehicle for learning, and as a student, you crucially reflect on your experience and connect it to a wider academic, civic or personal/spiritual context.
Service learning could not take place without our community partners. We know that service learning results in increased capacity at community agencies and in enhanced services to clients.
With your help, our students:
- Connect meaningful service, relevant academic work and critical reflection
- Apply knowledge and skills to specific service projects
- Grow and develop academically, spiritually and civically
- Service learning opportunities through The SALT Project are collaborative and mutually beneficial projects where community partners, faculty, staff and students work together.
The SALT Project welcomes your service learning project ideas and suggestions.
Submit a Proposal
If you’re interested in service-learning, you have the opportunity to attain the distinction of SALT Scholar. Our SALT Scholars are experts in service learning whose investment in service learning reflects a significant level of engagement. SALT Scholars will receive special distinction at graduation and on their academic transcript.
SALT enhanced courses will be given a special service learning designation in the undergraduate catalog. Students can learn about other SALT enhanced experiences through the SALT Center, university communication, the Student Missions office, or through their major area of study.
To become a SALT Scholar a student must complete the following steps:
Complete Tiers I-III
- Tier I: One-time service-learning project
- Tier II: Service-learning course
- Tier III: Service-learning approved mission trip or internship or independent project
- Determine Project Scope
- Focus on service that builds on previous community work
- Pursue projects that will help with professional development
- Identify possible community partners
- Work with Community Partner to set project goals and milestones
- SALT scholar projects should be "capacity building" efforts
- Capacity building projects help with community organizations' operations
- Capacity building work is not direct service (i.e. tutoring), but includes research, fundraising, curriculum development, program design and strategic planning efforts
- Capacity building projects have a lasting impact past the initial project and help the organization better accomplish its mission into the future
- Complete final report for SALT scholar project
- Submit online questionnaire outlining project efforts
- Submit final report to SALT Program and academic department (if applicable)
- Present SALT Scholar project at Student Scholars Symposium
NYU Wagner
Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning
The Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning is a national, peer-reviewed journal consisting of articles written by faculty and service-learning educators on research, theory, pedagogy, and issues pertinent to the service-learning community.
National Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 860 college and university presidents committed to the civic purposes of higher education. To support this civic mission, Campus Compact promotes community service that develops students' citizenship skills and values, encourages partnerships between campuses and communities, and assists faculty who seek to integrate public and community engagement into their teaching and research.
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
The Learn and Serve America National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC) supports the service learning community in higher education, kindergarten through grade twelve, community-based initiatives and tribal programs, as well as all others interested in strengthening schools and communities using service learning techniques and methodologies. The Clearinghouse stands ready to assist with materials, references, referrals, and information.
North Carolina Campus Compact
North Carolina Campus Compact is a rapidly growing coalition of 22 college and university presidents established to encourage and support campus engagement in the community.
