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Prepare for Service-Learning

Interested in Participating with the Service-Learning Program? Here’s how to get started:

Learn About Service-Learning

Visit these pages to learn what it means to partner with Service-Learning:

Complete the Community Partnership Interest Form

A Service-Learning staff member will follow up with you to discuss your organization’s needs and potential course partnerships.

Plan for Projects

Remember that getting started is often the hardest part. Connect with the Service-Learning Program to talk through potential opportunities!

  1. Brainstorm a project idea, with some detail for potential students.
    (View examples of current projects)
  2. Review the Placement Description Template to start thinking about what details will need to be covered.
  3. Develop your project with the Service-Learning Program. This will preferably include a potential faculty partner. Review the Connect with Instructors section to find discussion topics.
  4. Review the semester timeline to know when students are available to serve.
  5. Plan for your student orientation by creating or revising your training materials.  (View an Orientation Checklist and find helpful templates.)
  6. Consider these 10 Tips for Service-Learning Success.

Plan for Students

  1. Service-Learning students are not employees, and not quite volunteers. This grey area may require you to adapt orientation/training materials. The Resource Toolkit provides templates for this purpose.
  2. Be prepared to monitor student progress. Review the Check-In with Students section to find examples of questions you can use to do this.
  3. Recognize the importance of the evaluation process in service-learning success. You may be asked to complete a brief evaluation of your service-learning students. This process helps students learn from their experience and for you to develop your service-learning leadership.
An SL student showing two kids an exhibit.
SL students act as exhibit guides for the Discovery Center of Idaho

For immediate questions, please contact Casey McGee, the Service-Learning Educational Development Specialist, at 208-426-2023 or at caseymcgee@boisestate.edu.

Community Partner Highlight

Good Samaritan Home

“Good Samaritan Home is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with the Service-Learning, it has helped our nonprofit answer some outstanding questions using data, ensuring we are making decisions appropriately. Students bring a new perspective and innovative solutions. They are always a pleasure to work with! It is mutually beneficial, and we learn together as a team!”

– Danielle Sanders, CEO