Founded in 1973, Winter Term in Service (WTIS) is one of DePauw University’s oldest and most popular service programs. During DePauw’s January Winter Term, approximately 100 student, faculty, and professional volunteers serve on WTIS teams in sites located as close as Ridgeville, South Carolina, and as far away as Mactan Island, Philippines.  WTIS teams immerse themselves in the culture of their host communities, working alongside local people to provide much needed construction projects, medical clinics, public health education, and many other important services for people in their host community. 
The mission of the Winter Term in Service Program is to provide DePauw students, faculty members, alumni, and participating professionals an opportunity to collaborate on a locally identified work project in a domestic or international setting. Our aim is exposure to relevant social and political issues, engagement in critical reflection of our values and experiences, and increased understanding of diverse communities’ interconnectedness. These goals are at the heart of what we mean by service.
Students who have participated in the Winter Term in Service program often describe their WTIS experience as the most profound event of their college years.  Consistent with the proven outcomes of service-learning, students leave the WTIS experience with a heightened sense of cultural diversity, a better understanding of who they are and what they believe, a perspective on how they as individuals can improve the lives of others, an understanding of the interconnectedness of people not only across the globe but also within their own communities, and a greater awareness of the systematic inequalities that exist in our world.
They will also learn to work and live peacefully with a large diverse group of individuals, develop leaderships skills which can be used throughout life, develop a heightened sense of the importance of service, and the importance of cooperation and teamwork.
During the fall semester continued through when they return after their trip, we ask our students to be conscious of the four pillars of the program in order to gain a better understanding and critically reflect on their experience.  The four components are service, reflection, immersion, and education.
DePauw University and WTIS are committed to providing participants the opportunity to work with a broad range of global partners to meet the greatest needs of the community and to challenge all participants in an environment of shared learning within the communities in which we serve.