Long-term sustainability of service-learning programs: A ten year follow-up study of the Health Professions Schools in Service to the Nation program

Service-learning programs are proliferating in health professions schools and other institutions of higher learning across the nation. As this trend continues, the question of how academic institutions may support the long-term sustainability of service-learning in the curriculum has become an increasing concern. We conducted a ten year follow-up study of The Health Professions Schools in Service to the Nation (HPSISN) program to better understand the long-term sustainability and impact of service-learning programs, and the factors that influence these outcomes. Funded by the Corporation for National Service and The Pew Charitable Trusts, HPSISN awarded three-year grants to a cohort of 17 health professions schools to fund the integration of service-learning into the curriculum from 1995 to 1998. Data collection consisted of interviews with academic and community partners, site visits, and document analysis. We present findings on the long-term sustainability of service-learning in the curriculum, and the influence of the academic environment on sustainability. Potential influencing factors include infrastructure, policies and procedures, organizational culture, and features of the broader academic environment, such as funding streams, accreditation, and regulation. Based on the experiences of the HPSISN cohort, we provide recommendations for how other health professions institutions may foster the long-term sustainability of service-learning in their curricula.