ERIC Number: EJ1030803
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1544-0389
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
VITA Experiential, Service-Learning, Learned Competencies, and Changed Mindsets
Boneck, Robin; Barnes, Jeffrey N.; Stillman, Tyler F.
Journal of College Teaching & Learning, v11 n2 p71-84 2014
The authors describe how Southern Utah University has integrated the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program as an experiential servicelearning activity for over a decade and a half. First, we describe the value of experiential servicelearning. Second, we detail the program, its oversight, its student volunteers, and its purposes. Third, we provide a quantitative assessment of professional competencies based on a sample of 29 recent VITA student volunteers. Fourth, we describe a qualitative analysis of VITA student volunteers' perceptions of their participation using content analysis of written essays. And last, we provide a qualitative analysis of 71 tax-clients' perceptions of their participation in the program, again using content analysis. Based on our experiences and these results, we conclude that the VITA program is demonstrably beneficial for the institution's social responsibility for benefitting both the student volunteers' professional development and community's lower-income tax filers.
Descriptors: Service Learning, Experiential Learning, College Students, Volunteers, Program Evaluation, Competence, Student Attitudes, Content Analysis, Writing (Composition), Essays, Low Income Groups, Taxes, Financial Services, Accounting, College Faculty, Interviews, Computer Software, Attitude Change
Clute Institute. 6901 South Pierce Street Suite 239, Littleton, CO 80128. Tel: 303-904-4750; Fax: 303-978-0413; e-mail: Staff@CluteInstitute.com; Web site: http://www.cluteinstitute.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Tests/Questionnaires; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Utah
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A