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FAQs

Service-Learning Student FAQs

What are the academic benefits of service-learning?
  • Deepens understanding of course content through real-world application
  • Strengthens critical thinking, reflection, and problem-solving
  • Builds transferable skills (communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability)
  • Enhances cultural awareness and civic responsibility
  • Provides career experience and professional connections
  • Increases engagement, satisfaction, and sense of belonging
  • Helps students see how theory applies in real-world settings
How can service-learning support professional development?
  • Offers hands-on experience in your field of study
  • Helps build a professional network with community organizations
  • Encourages reflection on career goals and application of classroom learning
  • Adds meaningful, applied experience to your résumé
  • May lead to job or internship opportunities with partner organizations
  • Strengthens soft skills such as communication, project management, and adaptability
How is service-learning different from internships or volunteer work?

Purpose / focus

  • Service-learning connects academic learning to real community needs with non-profit partners.
  • Internships emphasize job training, career skills, and professional networking in for profit environments.
  • Volunteer work focuses on community service without structured academic integration.

Structure & reflection

  • Service-learning is built into a course with structured reflection, discussion, and assignments linking service to theory.
  • Internships may include evaluation or summary papers but typically have less ongoing reflection.
  • Volunteering usually has no academic assignments or formal reflection requirements.

Credit / assessment

  • Service-learning earns course credit based on academic learning outcomes.
  • Internships may be credit-bearing or standalone but are not always tied to coursework.
  • Volunteer work typically does not offer course credit.
How is learning assessed in service-learning?
  • Assessment focuses on learning, not just hours completed.
  • Common assessment tools include:
    • Assignments, projects, or presentations connecting service to course content
    • Structured reflection (journals, essays, or discussions)
    • Feedback or evaluation from community partners
    • Rubrics, portfolios, logs, or self-assessments
  • Evaluation emphasizes how well students integrate their experience with academic learning.
Can I choose my own service-learning project?
  • Depends on your course — some courses use or allow  Student-Initiated Project in which students propose their own service-learning activity with approval.
  • A proposal form (provided by your instructor or the Service-Learning Office) must include:
    • Project goals and community need
    • Partner organization information
    • Scope, supervision, and risk considerations
  • The instructor must review and approve the proposal to ensure it aligns with course objectives.
  • Approved projects must:
    • Address a genuine community need
    • Include structured reflection and academic integration
    • Meet supervision and time requirements
  • Projects outside these parameters may be modified or denied if they pose risks or lack academic connection.
Can service-learning be done remotely?
  • Yes. Many Boise State service-learning courses allow remote or virtual service.
  • Examples include:
    • Virtual tutoring or mentoring
    • Online research, data analysis, or web design for nonprofits
    • Digital awareness or social media campaigns
    • Creating manuals, materials, or digital tools for community use
  • While in-person engagement remains ideal, instructors often adapt service components to remote formats when appropriate.
How can I continue serving after my course ends?
  • Continue volunteering with your community partner, if appropriate
  • Join other campus or community service organizations
  • Turn your service-learning experience into an internship or job opportunity
  • Stay in touch with your community partner for future collaboration
  • Share or hand off your project to ensure it continues benefiting the organization
  • Add your service-learning experience to your résumé or graduate school applications
  • Take another service-learning course to build on your experience!
  • Share your SL experience with friends and peers
Two service-learning students pick tomatoes at Boise Urban Garden School.

Service-Learning FAQs

Student Safety and Risk Management

What if I feel unsafe or unsure during my service-learning experience?

  • Ask your community partner for help and tips on staying safe when in doubt.
  • Tell your instructor if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable with your community partner.
  • In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or seek emergency help immediately.
  • For non-urgent injuries, go to your healthcare provider or visit University Health Services
  • Notify your site supervisor and instructor as soon as possible after the incident
  • Help complete an incident or accident report as needed. Your health and safety are the top priority.

What if a student is injured at the service site?

  • If the injury is life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
  • For non–life-threatening injuries, contact your health care provider or University Health Services (Norco Building).
  • Notify your instructor, agency supervisor, and the Service-Learning Director as soon as possible.
  • An accident report will be filed, and the Dean of Students may be notified.
  • Students may file a Workers’ Compensation claim with the agency or Boise State, if the service activity was within the approved course scope.
  • Community partner agencies are required to carry liability insurance for service-learning students, with some exceptions.
  • If a student or agency acts outside the agreed scope or violates policy, insurance coverage may not apply, and the placement may be ended.

Professional Communication

If I’m working in a group, how can I help my service-learning team collaborate effectively?

  • Communicate early and clearly. Set shared goals, timelines, and responsibilities from the start.
  • Consider rotating roles at different intervals to promote flexibility and skill building.
  • Encourage all voices. Listen actively, share leadership, and value different perspectives to ensure positive collaboration
  • Support your teammates. Offer help, share feedback, and celebrate progress together.
  • Stay purpose-driven. Keep the community partner’s needs and course goals in focus.
  • Ask for guidance if needed. Reach out to your instructor early if challenges arise.
  • Reflect and document. Track your contributions and note what you learn about teamwork.

What’s a reasonable response time for replies to my email?

  • The reasonable length of time one should expect to wait for a reply to an email is between 24 and 48 hours during the work week.
  • Don’t expect immediate responses from community partners. However, contact your instructor if you do not receive a response within 3 working days.

Working with Community Partners

If I need to reschedule, what is the recommended procedure?

  • Reach out to your community partner as soon as possible to let them know you will not be able to attend your scheduled service time. You are still responsible for scheduling  a new time that you can make up those missed hours that works for both you and your community partner. If you can’t connect with your community partner, consult your instructor.

Can I post photos on social media or what are the steps or channels for this?

  • If you are in a public setting, you may post photos taken at that site on social media, however it is always best to get permission from those whose faces are visible in the photos.
  • If you are not in a public space, such as a community partner’s location, it is very important to receive consent before posting on social media, failing to do so may violate legal rights of individuals in the photos.
    • First, review the community partner’s on taking pictures. If you’re unsure, ask!
    • Get verbal consent from everyone you photograph who is identifiable. You do not need consent from people when they are not identifiable, for example, you only see the back of their head, or their face is heavily blurred. You can do this by simply asking if they are okay being photographed and that the image *may* be used in promotional materials. Don’t photograph anyone who asks you not to.
    • You need written consent from any individual you photograph who is identifiable and is not affiliated with Boise State. This adds complication; the best way to avoid this is to just avoid taking photos where community members are identifiable.

Your Responsibilities as a Student

What should I wear or bring to my service-learning engagement?

  • Wear appropriate, modest, easy-to-move-in clothing, consistent with the organization’s policy. If you’re unsure, ask!
  • Dress for what you will be doing on your service-learning site.

If my project is offsite, how will I get to the location of my service-learning?

  • Many sites are accessible by bus, and Boise State students ride for free on the Valley Regional Transit public transportation system.
  • Walking, biking, or other safe transportation options are also encouraged.
  • Boise State Cycle Learning Center is a campus-based source for alternative transportation including rentals, retail, and repair services.

How do I log hours?

  • You will either receive either a digital or physical log sheet from your instructor that you will use to log your service-learning hours or your community partner will track your hours through their system and provide a report to you or your instructor.
  • This will include a date, description, number of hours, and authorized signature from your community partner.

How many service-learning hours are expected?

  • The number of required hours depends on your course and instructor.
  • Service-learning projects are integrated assignments and take the place of a major paper, exam, final, or some other traditional class-based project instead of adding additional coursework hours.
  • Typical Boise State guidelines:
    • Required or fully integrated SL (3 credits): 10–25 hours per semester
    • Optional SL or SL lab (1 credit): 30–40 hours, plus reflection activities
  • Projects should include at least 10 hours of service to qualify as service-learning.
  • Check your syllabus or instructor for your course’s specific requirements.
  • The CP is expecting you to fulfill your projected service but you can always serve more

Your Service-Learning Support Team

I need an accommodation, how do I proceed with requesting one?

Step 1: Make sure you’re registered with the EAC. If you already have accommodations through Boise State’s Educational Access Center (EAC), go to Step 2.  If not, start here:

  • Visit the EAC website
  • Click Apply for Services
  • Submit documentation (if available) and schedule an Access Planning Meeting with an Access Coordinator.

Step 2: If you already have accommodations through the EAC:

  • Visit the EAC website
  • Click Apply for Services
  • Submit documentation (if available) and schedule an Access Planning Meeting with an Access Coordinator.

Step 3: Request accommodations for your service-learning placement

Log into your EAC Student Portal and send your semester accommodation letters to your course instructor and let them know these apply to your service-learning requirements.

Step 4: Communicate with your instructor

Let your course instructor know what barriers you’re experiencing in your community placement. They can help coordinate adjustments like:

  • Modified schedule/hours
  • Remote or alternative service tasks
  • Assistive technology use
  • Adjusted transportation options
  • Alternative assignments if necessary

Step 5: Loop in the Service-Learning Program (optional but helpful)

If your accommodation affects your duties or schedule with your community partner, your instructor may involve the Service-Learning Program staff to support arranging reasonable adjustments. They can help communicate with your partner and ensure accessibility needs are respected.

Step 6: Keep your community partner informed professionally

You do not need to share personal medical information. You can simply say: “I am working with Boise State’s Educational Access Center and I qualify for accommodations. I would like to discuss a small adjustment to support my participation.”