SLS-4c Explosion - 2,400 became 4,000

When PolyU decided in 2010 to make service-learning a required subject, we thought the target of providing enough places for 2,400 undergraduates each year was almost  an impossible target.  At the point the extent of our experience was running one or two community service projects, with 20-30 students in each group, each year.  

Little did we know the target number would become 4,000 - and growing - within a few years. We admit indeed roughly 2,400 students each year into full-time, 4-year, undergraduate programs.  However, we also admit some students into the 4-year programs after the first year.  In addition, we also have quite a number of 2-year “top-up” programs leading to the Bachelor’s degrees, designed for students who have completed the equivalent of the first tow years of the 4-year Bachelor’s degrees.  These are students who have completed associate degrees in community colleges, and higher diplomas in  vocational training institutes and other post-secondary educational institutions.   These  “senior admissions” (“senior intake”) amount to an additional 1,600+ students.  Hence the total number of students we have to accommodate suddenly becomes roughly 2,400 + 1,600 = 4,000.  This is indeed impossible. 

For a while, there was a running debate within the university whether these serener intake / top-up students should be required to take a SL subject.  On the one hand, these students are receiving a PolyU undergraduate degree.  If SL is to be an integral part of a PolyU education, then they should take a SL subject.  This is particularly important for students who are admitted into 4-year programs after the first year.  They are getting exactly the same degree as the other students who enter into the same program in the first year.  Their graduate diploma is going to look the same.  This is a strong pedagogical argument for requiring them to take a SL subjects.  Even for the 2-year top up program, they are all PolyU Bachelor’s degrees.  Many of their employers are not going to be distinguishing whether they studied 2 years or 4 years at PolyU.  

On the other hand, service-learning is designed as general education.  As such at least half of the students are expected to take SL in the first 2 years of their studies, and the vast majority of the students are expected to take SL in the first 3 years, leaving the final year for capstone projects, job hunting, applying for graduate studies, etc.   Students who enter PolyU only for the final 2 years do not have that luxury, they must take SL within the 2 years that they have.  In fact, students generally graduate in May, meaning that they actually only have 4 semesters plus one summer term to complete their requirements, not a full two years.  There is also the added complication that some SL subjects stretch over the spring semester and the following summer to complete.  This make it even more complicated for the students to fit SL into their study plan.  These are mainly practical and operational arguments against requiring senior intake / popup students to take SL.

Eventually, the leadership decided that the pedagogical trumps the practical.  All 4,000 undergraduate students who receive a PolyU Bachelor’s degree must take SL.  It does not matter whether they study at polyU for 4, 3, or 2 years.   Once that was decided, we went to work, frantically.  In a certain way, we are proud of that decision.  The pedagogical trumps the practical.  If it is educationally sound, we will find a way to achieve it.  When there is a will, there is a way - within reason.  And we have succeeded, despite our initial anxiety.  Thanks to the concerted efforts of the whole campus.