Frequently
Asked Questions About Community Based Service Learning
We have
tried to anticipate some of your concerns as you begin to develop your service
learning course by providing preliminary answers to some of the most frequently
asked questions from faculty who have already implemented a community based service learning component in their
course:
When
should I contact CPCS?
Contact CPCS
as early as possible prior to the semester in which your course
will offer a community based service learning component. This
will allow CPCS more time to work with you to plan your community
service experience.
How
many hours of service should my students be required to complete?
Minimally
15 hours, preferrably 25-30 hours per semester. This range provides a better
learning opportunity and a chance for students to develop more
meaningful relationships with members of the Syracuse community.
What
sort of training do my students need?
That depends
on the site and is usually provided by agency staff. CPCS provides
a required Community Orientation at the beginning of each semester.
Should
students work individually or in groups?
Preferrably
individually. However, on occasion, students have worked together at the same site.
What
do students do at their sites?
Depending
on the needs of the site and the requirements of the course, students
may be exposed to a variety of tasks including answering phones,
tutoring, friendly visiting, creating web sites, brochures and
manuals.
How
will my students get to their sites?
CPCS provides
transportation to service learning students. They also have the
option of walking to sites located near the SU campus, or using
public transportation.
What
if students do not fulfill their community service course requirement?
It is up to
the professor/instructor to determine what the impact will be
on a student's grade if she/he does not complete the required
service. CPCS will be glad to discuss several options.
Are there liability issues
I need to be thinking about?
In fact, there
are. Service as a course requirement increases the institutional
liability. But, CPCS works closely with the SU Risk Management
Department to establish policies that address these issues. We
will be glad to discuss these issues and mitigations with you
as part of our planning process.
Are
my students breaking confidentiality agreements by speaking and
writing about their experiences?
If students
use their experiences in the class, using pseudonyms, there should
not be issues with confidentiality. However, if students plan
to write or speak about their experiences outside of the classroom
they need to negotiate the terms of such work with the site and
their professor/instructor. CPCS will be glad to assist in this
process.
Faculty Resources Home
Designing
Service Learning Experiences
Frequently Asked Service
Learning Questions
Incorporating Reflection
Maximizing Resources