How Can Service-Learning Support You?

Faculty who teach with service-learning express increased student participation and deeper retention of course material, and new opportunities for research and publication. Services to faculty include:

One-on-one consultation with SL Faculty Liaison
Established community partnerships & assistance in developing new partnerships (including site visits to community organizations)
Sample syllabi and discipline-specific resources
Faculty development workshops
Service-Learning Director, Kara Brascia, consulting with faculty member, Kathy Hurley
Mini-grants and travel funds
Custom online system to manage SL partnerships and projects
Networking luncheons to meet with community partners
Collaboration on grants, papers, presentations

Group of students talking — Service-Learning staff talking with students

Service-Learning provides what today’s students are looking for: applied learning experiences, job networking, and personal relevance to their coursework. Services to students include:

Personal support to students in class and onsite
Online project registration and evaluations
Handouts to guide student-initiated projects
Work-study jobs with community organizations
Leadership opportunities, training, and jobs
Evaluations and focus groups to empower students’ voices
Transcript notation for service-learning
Recognition events and awards
Information on local, national, and international service opportunities

Idaho foodbank volunteer — Social Work student working with the Idaho Food Bank

Local agencies and nonprofit organizations gain a steady volunteer pool, access to potential employees, a base of future community support, and an influx of student idealism and enthusiasm. Services to agencies include:

SL staff focused solely on community partner support
Help in identifying potential faculty partners
SL staff site visits and orientations for agency staff
Help developing systems for orientating, scheduling, tracking and evaluating students
Forms and checklists to facilitate partnerships and logistics
Monthly check-ins and on-going troubleshooting
Networking luncheons to meet faculty
Community-Based Teaching Assistants to help support students on site, relieving pressure on agency staff
Website for posting projects, accessing student rosters, and evaluating students