A unanimous vote from the faculty determined that service learning will not become a common curriculum requirement for Loyola students.

“We thought that wasn’t the best way to go because it doesn’t send the proper message,” said Lydia Voigt, senior provost and chair of common curriculum. “We felt that it was important to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to get involved in community learning.”

The Common Curriculum Revision Task Force decided to make service learning an area of special emphasis in the new common curriculum which will begin next year. It will not be required of students, but highly recommended.

According to Kelly Brotzman, director of service learning, there are many issues in establishing a service learning requirement because departments and faculty members would have to incorporate a service learning component in their course.

Last year and the year before, there was a Common Curriculum Review Task Force that considered certain changes to the common curriculum, such as making service learning a requirement.

Brotzman said Loyola wants its faculty to teach subjects they are passionate about, so that same passion is shown through their teaching.

She, however, understands service learning is not a great fit for every professor or course.

Also, Loyola serves about 500 students per semester in about 35 courses, and if service learning was to become a requirement, it would result in staff, budget and resource increase.

“I don’t think it should be required of all students, if there’s an internal motivation and desire to do it, it’s much more valuable than if you’re being forced to do it,” said the Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J., vice president of mission and ministry.

Since so many students are already motivated enough to serve on their own, service learning does not need to be a requirement for Loyola students, according to Dziak.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” said Samuel Senter psychology sophomore and Loyola University Community Action Program chairman of Smile.

“Loyola has a strong impact in the community, and because Loyola does a good job of perpetuating service, a lot of people volunteer at Loyola. There might be more students involved if it was required, but I think it’s going to change the dynamics of the way service is structured.”

Ashley Irvin can be reached at [email protected]