Community Based LearningPlacements to Partnerships: Navigating the Paperwork

Campus Compact Study (2011)

“I have to say I was in the same situation where I felt like, ‘well what is really required of them?’ I wish I would have a syllabus to go by to know what they are doing.”

“And you ask the students, “What is the intention of your being here”? “I don’t know. I’m just here to do hours.”

“I think a great partnership is when you stop saying MY students. They’re OUR students. What are OUR needs? We share these things in common, so let’s go for it.”

From Placements to Partnerships

Impact on Processes

Student

Instructor

Community Partner

Sustained reciprocal relationships with community partners create opportunities to simplify the paperwork/process.

Clear understanding of project goals and tasks

When is paperwork needed?

When students will be working on-site with a community partner.

IF a description appears on the syllabus the first day of classes, paperwork is NOT necessary when: Student projects are completed off-site as

a deliverable The site is a Mason entity (e.g.

Sustainability Office, WAVES, etc.)

Standard Agreement

Consent & Release Form

CLCE Info Form (Online)

End of Semester Eval (Online)

Project Description

Standard Process

Completed by student or student group and Community

Partner

Completed by student

}

}

Standard Agreement

Consent & Release Form

CLCE Info Form (Online)

End of Semester Eval (Online)

Project Description

Mason Entity

Process

Completed by student or student group and Community

Partner OR by the instructor

(must appear on syllabus)

Completed by student

}

}

X

X

Long Term Agreement

Consent & Release Form

CLCE Info Form (Online)

End of Semester Eval (Online)

Project Description

Long Term Process

Completed by CLCE and Community Partner

Completed by student

Completed by instructor and Community Partner

Appears on course syllabus

}

}

}

Long Term Partnership Agreements

Carpenters Shelter Keep Prince William Beautiful Birmingham Green Main Street Child Development Center Fairfax Symphony Bethany House of Northern Virginia, Inc. FACETS

Pending: Volunteer Fairfax Volunteer Solutions- Partnership with Fairfax County Family Services Northern Virginia Family Services PRS, Inc. Wright to Read Alzheimer’s Family Day Center Daniels Run Elementary Fairfax County Government Programs The ARC of Northern Virginiag

Paperwork Packets: Please use most current version

Faculty packet has ALL forms Student packet has the forms students

need and step-by-step instructions

All forms are available: From me in print or via email From CLCE website

Other Bits Field trips: You don't need consent and release

forms IF you describe the activities on the syllabus first day of class.

Transportation to sites Syllabus language if you aren’t providing

transportation: “transportation is the responsibility of the student. Directions are…”

Drivers of car pools need to understand the liability is on them, not Mason.  

Students can drive clients in the Community Partner’s vehicles, but not in their own cars.

Resources Volunteer Fairfax

Searchable database of current volunteer opportunities all over the region

Connect Northern Virginia Searchable database (by location and

social issue) of ALL nonprofit organizations in the region.

Growing information hub about how a variety of social issues affect the region.