Factors Influencing the Institutionalization of Service-Learning at 4

Year Public Colleges and UniversitiesSarah M. Brackmann

International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community

EngagementOctober, 2010

Overview Evidence of Institutionalization of

Service-Learning and Community Engagement

Hypotheses Sample & Methods Results Limitations Implications for Future Research

Service-Learning and Community Engagement Movement

Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement• “Affirms that a university or college has

institutionalized engagement with community in its identity, culture, and commitments…. The practices of community engagement have been developed to the extent that they are aligned with the institutional identity and an integral component of institutional culture.”

Purpose of the Study

Identify financial and organizational characteristics that would predict the likelihood of colleges or universities to institutionalize service-learning on their campuses.

Five HypothesesHypothesis 1: Institutions with experiential programs such as

study abroad will be more likely classified for Community Engagement.

Hypothesis 2: Institutions accepting higher levels of state appropriations will be more likely to be classified for Community Engagement.

Hypothesis 3: Institutions located in the Northeast or Great Lakes region will be more likely to be classified for Community Engagement.

Hypothesis 4: Institutions allocating more money to public service, student services and instruction expenditures will be more likely classified for Community Engagement.

Hypothesis 5: Land grant institutions will be more likely to be classified for Community Engagement.

Sample

Examines 610 four-year public institutions 2007-2008 data collected from Integrated

Postsecondary Education Data (IPEDS) Omitted institutions in outlying regions,

service schools, and those not reporting financial data

Logistic Regression Dependent variable= Community

Engagement Classification (Yes=1, No=0) Independent variables= Land-grant, study

abroad, Region, Public Service Expenses per FTE, Instruction Expenses per FTE, Student Services Expenses per FTE, State Appropriations per FTE

Methods

FindingsLogistic Regression

  Coefficient S.E. P-Value

Constant -3.471017.744834

3(.000)

Study Abroad 2.542741.672771

7(.000)**

Land Grant 0.8587223.310428

6(0.006)*

*

Great Lakes or Northeast -0.0192855.247839

6(0.938)

Academic Support Expenses per FTE 0.0000806.000037

4(0.031)*

Public Service Expenses per FTE 0.0000315.000018

2(0.084)

Instruction Expenses per FTE 0.0000408.000021

5(0.058)*

Student Services Expenses per FTE -0.0004332.000218

4(0.047)

*

Research Expenses per FTE -0.0000214.000018

5(0.249)

State Appropriations per FTE -0.0000598.000029

9(0.046)*

Note: *p<.10, **p<.05

FindingsOdds Ratios

  Exp(B) S.E. P-Value

Study Abroad 12.714478.55393

6(.000)**

Land Grant 2.360143 .732655

9 ( 0.006)*

*

Great Lakes or Northeast .9808992 .243105

7(0.938)

Academic Support Expenses per FTE

1.000081 .000037

4 (0.031)*

Public Service Expenses per FTE 1.000031.000018

2(0.084)*

Instruction Expenses per FTE 1.000041.000021

5 (0.058)*

Student Services Expenses per FTE .9995669.000218

3 (0.047)*

Research Expenses per FTE .9999786 .000018

5(0.249)

State Appropriations per FTE .9999402.000029

9 (0.046)*

Note: *p<.10, **p<.05

FindingsSummary of Significance

Hypothesis Significance

Hypothesis 1: Institutions with experiential programs such as study abroad will be more likely classified for Community Engagement.

Yes

Hypothesis 2: Institutions receiving higher levels of state appropriations will be more likely to be classified for Community Engagement.

No

Hypothesis 3: Institutions located in the Northeast or Great Lakes region will be more likely to be classified for Community Engagement.

No

Hypothesis 4: Institutions allocating more money to public service, student services and instruction expenditures will be more likely classified for Community Engagement.

No

Hypothesis 5: Land grant institutions will be more likely to be classified for Community Engagement.

Yes

Limitations Does not control for all variables Only studies 4-Year Public institutions Dichotomous dependent and

independent variables

Implications & Future Research

Quantitative, inferential study of service-learning using national datasets

Provides a starting point for additional research looking at institutional factors

Linear regression studying the change in variables as a result of achieving the classification

Questions

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