Chapter 8: Service-Learning Pedagogy: Understanding the Impact of Student Breadth and Depth of Engagement in Student Organizations

The impact of two elements of service-learning practice—breadth (students’ participation in a service-learning organization over time) and depth (students’ level of engagement in the service-learning organization)—were used as variables to assess the impact on students enrolled in a nonprofit leadership program that incorporates service-learning practice. A survey assessing students’ perceptions of their proficiency level for 17 nonprofit management competencies was administered to 6,381 participating in the multicampus Nonprofit Leadership Alliance program, which offers a national certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and a corresponding Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential. Quantitative analyses for all completed surveys (n = 743) revealed a significant difference between three breadth groupings (short duration, moderate duration, long duration) on every competency, with longer durations generally providing greater support for student development of competencies. In regard to depth (minimally involved, moderately involved, highly involved), being highly involved was found to be significantly different than being less involved on almost every competency, although further analyses revealed several exceptions to this finding. The overall findings of the study suggest that students who participate in this service learning-based nonprofit management program for three or more semesters and are highly engaged perceive their participation as significantly different in their learning of nonprofit management competencies than those who participate for fewer semesters or are not as engaged.