Tips for Student Orientations
Once the placement is agreed upon and specific duties are determined, the service learning student needs to be oriented by the site coordinator/supervisor. The orientation needs to make the student feel accepted and clarify his or her role, responsibilities, and expectations. It is helpful if students gain some understanding during orientation about how and what they will be doing fits in with the agency mission.
An orientation should include:
- A tour of the facility
- An introduction to staff members.
- A review of rules, regulations, policies and dress codes.
- A discussion of the service learning student’s role, including specific tasks and specific benefits to the agency.
- An explanation of any “jargon” or language used by staff, manuals, etc.
- A discussion on scheduling service hours and the notification protocol when a student is ill or cannot attend.
- Agency hours.