Tips for Service-Learning Students
- Get an early start! Start thinking about how those requirements will fit into your schedule, and what adjustments you may have to make in order to complete your required hours of service.
- Do your research! Ask your instructor what service sites will be available for students in your course, then research those organizations—either by yourself or with Center for Service Learning Staff.
- When contacting your service site, be…
- Persistent! You may need to call/email your site (doing both can be helpful) more than once in order to get a hold of them or for them to call you back. Please don’t take this as a sign that they do not want your service! Nonprofit staff are often very busy, so leave a message and give them at least 48 hours to return your call/ email.
- Professional! As a service-learning student you represent not only yourself but also Rockhurst University.
- Flexible! You may know the service you would like to do but the site supervisor may see a different task that fits better with your skills or the organization’s needs. Please be open to their suggestions.
- Treat your service as you would paid employment! Make sure to arrive on time. Tardiness is unprofessional and an inconvenience to the agency staff. Make sure you talk to your site supervisor about their protocols for being late or calling in sick. Dress appropriately for the task that you will be doing and for your agency—ask about the dress code if it has not already been mentioned in your orientation.
- Keep open communication! Communicate with your site supervisor and your professor. If any situation arises that you have questions or concerns about, make sure to address them before it becomes unmanageable. If you are uncomfortable addressing concerns on site, please contact the Center for Service Learning staff for assistance. If you are working directly with individuals served by your community site, make sure to maintain professional communication. Let the individual know your role at the site and how long you will be working there.
- Always think about your course objectives! Always keep in mind how you can tie course objectives to your service-learning experience. Remember that you are being graded on your ability to link your service with your classroom learning; not your service.
- Keep track of your hours! You are in charge of keeping track of the hours that you serve according to the specific guidelines given you by your instructor. Make sure you are getting all necessary signatures and turning in documentation at appropriate times!
- Ask questions! If you don’t understand a task that is given to you or want to know something more about it, ask your supervisor. Likewise, if you complete a task and don’t know what else to do, don’t be afraid to inquire about what to do next. But be patient: your supervisor may be in the middle of something else and need you to wait a few minutes before showing you your next task.
- Be respectful! Be trustworthy, respectful, and non-judgmental. At your site you will very likely work with individuals from completely different demographics than yours. Try to treat everyone equally and with respect, and note when and why you may find that difficult!
- Maintain confidentiality! You may also want to talk to your site supervisor about confidentiality. If you have questions about what information can and cannot be shared, please ask about the policy of the community site. Don’t ever give out information about another person!
Adapted from the Service Learning Program at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL (T.Milne and S. Gustis, 2007)
