The Economic and Social Impact of Service-Learning: Strengthening Community Bonds and Institutional Anchoring

This study examines the economic and social community impact of a large regional teaching university's Academic Service-Learning program through mixed-methods research combining institutional data analysis, community partner surveys (n=127), and comparative benchmarking with peer institutions. Findings reveal that the University's service-learning initiatives generated over 180,000 service hours during the 2023-2024 academic year, translating to approximately $6 million in economic value using the Independent Sector's valuation methodology. While delivering substantial return on investment ($192.12 in community impact per dollar invested), the program faces implementation challenges including partnership sustainability and quality consistency across courses. Analysis of student outcome data, controlling for demographic variables and prior academic performance, indicates positive associations between service-learning participation and academic persistence, though selection bias remains a limitation. Community partner interviews reveal benefits in organizational capacity and fresh perspectives, alongside concerns about project continuity and institutional power dynamics. The study positions the University's approach within anchor institution theoretical frameworks while critically examining both strengths and limitations of service-learning as a community engagement strategy. These findings contribute to understanding how higher education institutions can effectively leverage service-learning to create meaningful community impact while acknowledging the complexity of university-community partnerships.