Tips for Successful Service-Learning Experiences

Remember Service Learners are students not volunteers.
Remember Service Learners are students not volunteers. Supervisors must always keep in mind that not only do Service Learning students want to help meet important community needs, they are also using the experience as a basis for understanding their college course. Students are receiving academic credit for learning through their service efforts. Help students think about what the experience means to them, the organizational context, and overall societal issues and impacts.
Plan ahead.
Clear, well planned Service Learning placement descriptions outlining tasks, responsibilities, and time commitments must be prepared in cooperation with the Portland Community College course instructor.
Be aware that some students may not match your needs - be selective.
You may have many students contacting your agency to serve, you will make the final selection. If a student's qualifications and/or motivations are not in harmony with your needs, it is your right and obligation to request a different student.
Orient, Train, and Supervise.
Students require carefully structured orientation to your agency, staff and clients. This should answer questions such as: "Where do I fit in? How do I get things done? What do I need to be aware of ? What is expected of me?" Introduce students to staff, give them a tour of the facility, and make sure they feel comfortable and welcome. Students should be familiarized with your mission and key community and societal issues facing your agency (i.e. "the bigger picture" - why you do what you do).
Be realistic with your time commitment expectations of students- think quarter.
Because service is integrated into a class structure, students must be able to complete their placement within an academic quarter time frame (usually 10-11 weeks). Keep in mind that it takes a couple of weeks to get students assigned, oriented, and started. Additionally, the last week is devoted to exams. Agencies are asked to adjust by scheduling orientation and training at the beginning of each quarter and by developing placements that can be completed in one quarter.
Be an involved teacher and mentor to the students.
Throughout the assignment the supervisor should help the student interpret the experience and the relationship between what he/she is doing and the world of the agency and others. The student-supervisor relationship is one of the most significant parts of the student's experience and often determines the success of placement. The supervisor is truly a partner with the course instructor in the student's education and should view him/herself as an "educator."
Say Thanks.
Students liked to be appreciated. This may take many forms, from letters of recognition, to thank you notes, to a simple acknowledgement of a job well done. They need to see how their work is important to your agency's mission.
Talk with us.
Keep the course instructor and Service Learning Partnerships Coordinator and/or faculty member aware of any concerns, problems, successes, and/or other issues related to the placement and/or student.