What is Service-Learning? - S-L @ IIT

IIT was founded in 1893 as the Armour Institute, embodying the vision cast by Minister Frank Gunsaulus during what came to be known as "The Million Dollar Sermon".  While preaching one Sunday, Mr. Gunsaulus peaked the interest of Chicago meat packer and philanthropist Philip Danforth Armour by stating that, with one million dollars, he would build a school where people of all backgrounds could prepare for meaningful roles in a changing industrial society.

Fast forward to the Fall of 2005: the Armour Institute has changed its name to the Illinois Institute of Technology, and over the course of 100 years, many more changes have taken place on and around campus. In that time, IIT has blossomed into one of the premier technical schools in the country. Still, a group of student felt their instruction in the classroom was not quite enough to prepare them for life after IIT. After rediscovering the Million Dollar Sermon, those students set out to change the direction of the University to better prepare students to take truly meaningful roles in society. Like-minded students leaders and student organizations formed The Coalition for Service Learning and Professional Responsibility to promote their ideas.

After talking with students, administrators, faculty, and staff, the Coalition presented the Resolution for Service Learning and Professional Responsibility to the Student Government Association as an embodiment of the common values of the university community. After being unanimously approved, members of the Coalition presented the Resolution to President Collens (1990-2007), and successfully influenced the university community to insistent that the Mission, Vision, and Values of IIT more closely reflect the original mission of the Armour Institute as envisioned by Mr. Gunsaulus.

And so, as a result of the student-led effort to focus more attention to service learning and professional responsibility, the Office of Student Activities and Orientation founded the Service-Learning Program here at IIT in the Fall of 2006.  The program seeks to provide facilitated service experiences on a monthly basis for students, faculty, and staff.  Through these experiences, participants develop technical and social skills while gaining insight into the context of service and fostering a sense of solidarity among communities.  In this way, the Service-Learning Program here at IIT is helping individuals prepare to take meaningful roles in a changing society.

* For more on the history of IIT, click here!