From the Top Down and from the Bottom Up

Abstract This paper documents the process of integrating and institutionalizing academic service-learning into university, department, and program curriculum. First, we briefly define academic service-learning. Second, we discuss how academic service-learning is being institutionalized into our university community. Third, we discuss how we have integrated service-learning into our Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum. We conclude by illustrating how academic service-learning has been integrated into our Family Studies program by using a parent education course, our Family Studies club, and a human sexuality course as examples. The successes and difficulties of integrating academic service-learning into course curriculum are highlighted.