Roadmap to Community-Engaged Learning & Service Learning

1. Service Idea
   • Have a service idea or desire to add a community service component to a course.
2. Contact the Service Learning Office
   • We are here to assist with navigating university policies, logistics, and more (i.e., Brainstorming ideas, networking with other faculty, being added to S4, University Agreement, and Student forms)
3. Identify Possible Community Partnerships
   • Share your potential partners for the project. (Faculty Request for New Site)
     • StanServe S4 has our existing partnerships, which are available to search.
   • Check if an agreement is in place or needed.
4. Developing a Partnership
   • Meeting with the Community Partner.
     • Starter Questions: Are they interested? What is their capacity? What would benefit the agency? What are their requirements for volunteers?
     • Get to know the agency - mission, clientele, location, and more.
   • Service Learning Staff share and request the university-required documents to be completed.
5. Required Documents
   • Faulty complete the CSU Community-Engaged Learning Tool (CELT) for new or modified Service Learning and Community-Engaged Learning courses.
   • Service Learning staff will complete the process for the Service Learning Agreement and risk assessment.
   • Service Learning staff will post the opportunity on StanServe S4.
     • Including any requirements the partner has for students.
   • Students complete required StanServe S4 forms (See Item 6).
6. Course Implementation & StanServes S4
   • Add the service project to your course syllabus.
     • Service Learning Outcomes:
       1. Apply discipline‐specific and/or interdisciplinary knowledge and critical thinking skills to community issues. (Program Goals 1,2)
       2. Demonstrate critical self‐reflection of onesʹ own assumptions and values as applied to community issues.  (Program Goals 2,3,4)
       3. Demonstrate knowledge and sensitivity to issues of culture, diversity, and social justice as applied to community engagement. (Program Goals 2,3,4)
   • Prepare the students for the community service or project.
     • Items to cover – how to work with the clients being served, expectations, responsibilities, and completing required forms.
       • Service Learning Staff can present on required forms and university expectations for students participating in service experiences.
   • Have students complete their required placement forms on StanServe S4 BEFORE starting the service experience.
     • Learning Plan, Participation Guidelines, and General Liability Waiver
       • Some course with also need to complete the following: Working with Minor-Training Videos, LiveScan, and more. We will help with this. 
       • StanServe S4 also has a Time-Log option to track student hours. 
       • There are several StanServe S4 guides available for Faculty, Staff, and Students.
   • Best Practices from the CSU Chancellor’s Office:
     • A minimum of 15 hours of service. (Ultimately determined by faculty for effective learning).
     • Introduce students to agency before service. (i.e., guest speaker, class tour of agency, etc.)
     • Academic credit is awarded for the learning gained from the experience, not for the service itself.
     • The service experience is connected to the course through readings, projects, and class presentations.
     • Reflection and critical reflection are ongoing and include dialogue about community issues and the need for service.
     • Students, faculty, and community representatives participate in the evaluation process.
7. Ongoing Support & Check-ins
   • Service Learning staff check student forms on S4 and check in with faculty about the service project and any challenges.

Downloadable PDF version of the Roadmap coming soon.