By Jason Tang
The Jacobsen Center for Service and Learning recently had its name changed after the Jacobsens allocated their funds towards other church endeavors. The center”s name is now The Center for Service and Learning.
“We are very grateful for their contributions to the university and for their help in establishing this center,” said Carri Jenkins, director of University Communications.
The Jacobsen Center for Service and Learning began in 1999 with the goal of providing service opportunities. The center will continue the tradition of providing community service, although future changes could take place.
“Even before the center was established, BYU has had a long term commitment to service and service learning,” Jenkins said. “There will be, perhaps, some changes in the future, but right now the center is certainly carrying on with its goals and objectives.”
One of the main goals for the center is to provide students with an opportunity to get involved in community projects and community efforts. Through the years, some of the center”s objectives have changed.
“For example, when the Jacobsen Center began it did have an international focus as one of its objectives,” Jenkins said. “With the announcement of the church”s Perpetual Education Fund, that objective was re-evaluated and more emphasis was put upon community involvement.”
With the change of the center”s name, one thing will certainly stay constant: students will remain a focus of The Center for Service and Learning.
“The center will carry on with its community involvement and initiatives that is now set forth,” said Dean Vernon Heperi, head of Student Life. “We are still looking to promote services for students and the community. Our commitment to service has been long.”
The center will continue to operate under direction from the university.
“Nobody is going to lose their job because of this,” Jenkins said.
A majority of the funding for The Center for Service and Learning will also come from the university.
“Before the center was established, we had several projects and programs that were going on throughout the campus that were being funded by the university,” Jenkins said. “When the center was established those programs all came together and the university funding came with them, so there is still significant university funding at the center which will allow it to carry on.”
Kevin Christensen, one of the program directors at The Center for Service and Learning, said he hasn”t seen much difference since the name change.
“Everybody”s doing the same thing, the budget hasn”t changed and programs are the same,” Christensen said. “The extent of the effect of the change is when we answer the telephone.”
Jenkins remains optimistic that the change will be a positive one.
“With the name change, it does provide an excellent chance for review and evaluation,” Jenkins said. “Any good organization always goes through changes.”
Volunteer applications are available in The Center for Service and Learning in 2330 WSC.
