FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(FAQS) FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
what is the difference between a service-learner and a volunteer?
A Service-Learner is someone who does community service relating it to a course (s)he is taking. (S)He will be connecting the theories learning in class and applying it to the service (s)he is doing. In doing Service-Learning, there will be a strong emphasis on the educational aspect of the time spent serving.
For comparisons and contrasts between Service-Learning and volunteering, please click here.
For comparisons and contrasts between Service-Learning and volunteering, please click here.
how many hours will a service-learner spend at my site?
The minimum amount of hours that Service-Learners spend at a site is 20 hours. Some professors ask for 25, 30, or more, depending on the expectations from the course and its objective.
what if my organization needs a longer commitment from the student?
In the past and currently, we work with organizations which do require longer commitments, from 3 months to even a year, depending on the nature of their mission. If you wish for students to make a longer commitment, please make sure that they are aware. Many of our Service-Learners who choose to go to a site with a longer time commitment end up with great experience and may apply for various scholarships linked to community service.
how long is a semester?
The Fall Semester usually begins at the end of August; our program gives students the chance to sign up for service until mid-September. Students have until the end of November to finish their hours. The Spring Semester begins the middle of January, giving Service-Learners until the end of the month or first week of February to sign up for the program. The deadline to complete their hours is at the end of April.
Some of our sites also ask for summer Service-Learners. In summertime, there are two class sessions - one begins around the end of May and ends around the end of June; the second Summer session begins around Independence Day week and ends mid-August. If you are interested in continuing to receive Service-Learners throughout the summer as well, please let us know.
Some of our sites also ask for summer Service-Learners. In summertime, there are two class sessions - one begins around the end of May and ends around the end of June; the second Summer session begins around Independence Day week and ends mid-August. If you are interested in continuing to receive Service-Learners throughout the summer as well, please let us know.
how many service-learners should i expect every semester?
The amount of Service-Learners that signed up with us every semester is, in average, 300. Furthermore, we have about 50 community partners that we work with. Hence, the amount of students you will work with will vary, according also to the objective, location, schedule, interest, and other factors. When you register with us, please inform us of the amount of student you may need, though we cannot guarantee to provide you with a specific amount of students. We do host a Service-Learning Community Partner Fair at the beginning of every semester, where we provide you with an opportunity to meet the students and talk to them more in-depth about your organization's mission - it is a great way to get to know them and recruit them! Contact us at [email protected] for more details.
I haven't seen some of my service-learners for quite a bit, and i know they have not completed their hours. what should i do?
If you feel there is one or more Service-Learners that are not following the guidelines you are expecting them to follow, we recommend you talk to them directly. If the student(s) continue to not be compliant, you may contact us at [email protected] or the professor, so that we can help put the student back in track or help him or her find another site. There will also be an evaluation at the end of the semester that you will complete about the student - this evaluation is another way of letting our office and the professor know of the quality of service the student provided. Attendance is an important component of this program and your organization, and we are always reminding our students of the importance.