Activities can qualify as “Service-Learning” if they meet the criteria listed below.
Students who complete a project that meets these criteria may earn a Service-Learning transcript distinction for their class. To initiate this, the instructor emails the student’s name and ID to the Service-Learning Director at the end of the semester.*
Contact KaraBrascia@boisestate.edu (SL Director) with questions.
Service-Learning Criteria:
- Community Need: The SL experience addresses a community-identified need or goal (such as food security, affordable housing, human rights, youth asset building, intercultural connections, climate change, etc.) and promotes well-being and/or sustainability. The SL project makes a clear positive community impact, often by increasing community capacity, reducing barriers, or building community.
- Community Voice: The community is involved in planning the project, ensuring it is meaningful and addresses its specific needs. This involvement can come from two main sources:
(1) Organizations like non-profit organizations* or public agencies working for the common good; or (2) Individuals or experts with deep knowledge and experience of the community’s issues and goals. - Learning Experience: The SL experience supports students in achieving specific learning outcomes, including academic learning and civic/community learning. The student demonstrates their learning through a project or reflection.
- Time Investment: The student’s investment in this project is 10+ hours.
*Students may earn a Service-Learning transcript distinction for their course, if the instructor has applied for SL designation for that course, indicating that the course structure incorporates these SL essential practices).