Service Learning Course Development: Developing Community Partnerships That

Work

  Maureen RubinCalifornia State University, Northridgemaureen.rubin@csun.edu

Who is out there in cyberspace?

• Using the chat feature, please let me know who is attending today.

• If you have already engaged in a community partnership, please let me know the main challenge you faced.

• If you are new to service-learning, what’s your main challenge regarding community partnerships?

Most important question for faculty--

• What are your desired student learning outcomes?

• WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR STUDENTS TO LEARN?

• Primary Goal Understanding of Course Content

• Value Added Goals Understanding Related Societal/Professional Issues Awareness of and Involvement with Community Commitment to Service Career Development Self-awareness, Sensitivity to Diversity, Sense of Ownership Improved Communication and Critical Thinking Skills Leadership, Values, Taking Responsibility, Perseverance

Don’t want to preach to the choir

We’re all aware of the benefits of community partnerships: Fulfills part of higher education’s responsibility

to its community. Many positive effects of students’ academic

and personal development. Makes learning relevant.

High Impact practice that boosts retention and graduation rates.

Helps community organizations increase the quality of service to their clients.

Enhances the ability of both the university and the community organization to achieve their missions.

What makes a good partnership?

• Honoring the role of the community as co-educator.

• Collaborating on all aspects of course design.• Having all parties understand the desired

student learning outcomes and have a clear role in guiding students toward achieving them. 

• Recognizing community voices in defining needs, faculty expertise in developing projects to address defined needs, and students' voices in implementing community learning projects.

Cal State Northridge Center for Community Engagementhttp://www.csun.edu/csl/

So that means definitions must be clear

Volunteerism – Describes people, who of their own free will and without pay, perform service or do good work. This can be done on a regular or sporadic basis with any community. Volunteers perform whatever tasks need to be done.

Internships/Practicum/Field Work – Capstone academic experiences through which students implement material covered in a series of classes. Students’ service should give them opportunities to use the knowledge and skills that have attained and should resemble entry-level employment as much as possible.

Community service-learning

• Academic study linked to community service through collaborative planning and structured reflection and so that each reinforces the other.

• Service-learners should perform service that will advance mutually agreed upon student learning outcomes.

• The community service may be direct service to people in need, community outreach and education, research or policy analysis.

• Regular and vigorous reflection is on-going, not just at mid-term and finals time.

Finding community partners

• Where are they? They are located throughout your community

but you and the University might have to network to find them:• Build a database.• Go to community meetings (United Way).• Learn about existing coalitions.• Ask faculty who they know and work with.• Visit schools, small businesses, specialty groups.• Make it easy for them to find you.• Create web applications. (but be sure to work with risk management).

Resources that can help you may exist in your

community

It’s just like match.com• If you were searching for a date, you would be

required to complete an extensive questionnaire before a match is proposed.

• The potential consequences of not conducting an extensive screening process is much worse than a bad first date, because they last an entire semester.

• Researching compatibility is a MUST• Is there a shared understanding of “who we are” as

a partnership entity? Janke calls it a “partnership identity.”

Janke, Emily• Defining Characteristics of Partnership Identity in Faculty Community Partnerships,

• Information Age Publishing, 2009

Here’s a sample of what to ask from California State University

• Organization Name• Type of Organization ( Adult Education,

Faith Based, Government, High School)• Partnership Contact and Title• Address• Phone• Email, FAX, website• The whole request form can be found at:http://www.servicelearning.org/sample_form_template/

request-initiate-campus-community-partnership

Community issues addressed

advocacy

Education - Early Childhood Food Security Health – Policies & Practices Media – Public Radio or Television

Voter Information & Registration

Agriculture Education – K-6 Global Issues Health – Public Health Poverty Women’s Rights

Animal Welfare Education – Middle School Health – Aging & Hospice Care Health – Substance Abuse Public Safety Youth – At-Risk Youth Programming

Arts & Culture Education – High School Health – Chronic Disease Housing Social Services – Adults Youth – Career Exploration

Community/Economic Development

Education – Literacy Health – Community Wellness Homelessness Social Services – Children & Youth

Youth – Foster Care

Community Gardening Education – Mathematics Health – Mental Wellness Immigration & Naturalization Technology Youth – Recreational Programs

Conflict Resolution/ Peace & Justice

Education – Physical Education Health - Nutrition Labor/Employment Development

Transportation Youth – School-Based Programs

Economic Development Environmental Sustainability Health – Physical Fitness Legal Assistance / Social Justice Urban Planning & Development Other

Have students indicate availability and community members indicate

requirements

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m. - Noon

Noon – 2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

• Ask how many hours will be required of a student• Ask what those hours are•Student schedules have to accommodate community partner needs• Everyone is asking for trouble if they don’t. Students often overestimate their availability and underestimate their outside activities.

Accounting & Information Systems

Chemistry & Biochemistry Economics Engineering – Civil & Applied Mechanics

Family & Consumer Sciences

Journalism Modern & Classical Languages & Literature

Psychology

Anthropology Chicana/o Studies Education – Deaf Studies

Engineering – Electrical & Computer

Finance, Real Estate & Insurance

Kinesiology Music Recreation & Tourism Mgmt.

Art Child & Adolescent Development

Education – Elementary

Engineering – Manufacturing Systems

Gender & Women’s Studies

Liberal Studies Program Pan African Studies Religious Studies

Asian American Studies Cinema & Television Arts Education – Leadership & Policy

Engineering – Mechanical Geography Management Philosophy Social Work

Biology Communication Disorders & Sciences

Education – Psychology & Counseling

Engineering – Systems & Operations Mgmt.

Geological Sciences Marketing Physical Therapy Sociology

Business Law Communication Studies Education – Secondary

English Health Sciences Mathematics Physics & Astronomy Theatre

Central American Studies

Computer Science Education – Special Education

Environmental & Occupational Health

History Mathematics – Developmental

Political Science Urban Studies & Planning

Determine what sort of majors community partners need – they don’t think BROADLY

Planning for the first meeting

Community collaboration planner

Community Partner• Briefly describe your organization: mission,

main interest, population served, organizational structure, budgets.

• What do you see as the potential benefit for the community from students performing these service activities?

• What are the most important lessons your organization can teach college students?

• List three service outcomes (representative activities that you would like students to perform) at your organization and describe them to the students and faculty members.

Community collaboration planner

Faculty Members and Students• Describe the course in which community-service

learning will be used.• List your top three student learning outcomes

(the three most important things you want to learn or have your students learn during the service learning experience) and describe them to your community partner.

Both Partners• Find at least three intersections where the faculty

and student goals and the community partner goals can coalesce. Keep talking and negotiating until this is accomplished.

What will students do?• Is there a meeting of the minds? A “partnership

identity?• Very important to see if community partners have

a realistic understanding of the type and level of service that it expected.

• Consider: Is the service the right level for the class? Is it something that can be done in one semester? Will students address on-going needs or work on a

special projects? Will the faculty member’s student learning

objectives be advanced through this service? Do both parties agree on student learning

outcomes?

Would you allow…

• Students to pick up trash at a site?• Under what circumstances?Please type your criteria using the chat

feature.

Would you allow…

• Students to help litigants fill out forms for court appearances?

• Under what circumstances?

Placing students• Who assigns students to sites? Faculty

member or student?• Get information from community partner

and distribute to students on the first day of class. Include brochures or descriptions with syllabus

• Invite the community partner to come to class at the next meeting to describe the organization/project/clients?

• Same assignment or rotation?

Scheduling

• How long will the service component of the class last? Start date______ End date_____

• How many students will go to this site?• How many times a week will they come to the

site?• How many total hours will be required of each

student?• What are the on-site check-in and check-out

procedures.• Make a sign up grid.• Can missed days be made up? How?

Revisit student schedule planners with community

partners

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m. - Noon

Noon – 2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

• Ask how many hours will be required of a student• Ask what those hours are•Student schedules have to accommodate community partner needs• Everyone is asking for trouble if they don’t. Students often overestimate their availability and underestimate their outside activities.

Plan student recruitment

• Have all potential community partners come to first class

• Bring literature• Make a presentation• All students time for q & a with potential

partners• If a representative of the community partner

can’t attend, pass out literature. But it is not a good sign of their recognition of what the students need from them.

At orientation, cover site procedures

• What are the on-site check-in and check-out procedures

• How will students track their hours?• Are there transportation or parking problems?• Is public transportation available?• What should students wear?• Who will be the on-site supervisor?• Will students be driving a company car?• Where will students work? Will all

materials/equipment be provided?• Will students be asked to purchase anything? Will

expenses be reimbursed?

Plan ahead

• Background checks• TB tests• Special training• All of these take time• When can you communicate with next

semester’s students?• Find out and contact them as soon as

possible to deal with site requirements

Training• Where and what kind of orientation is

planned? In class or on site? How long? One shot or continual?

• Stress importance of attendance.• Any special training? Can it be part of the

class?• Schedule a meeting between the on-site

supervisor and the students as early as possible.

Student orientation• Presentation on agency mission, main

interest, population served, organizational structure, budgets, programs and services.

• Introduction and break out sessions with site supervisors. Provide job descriptions.

• Rules and regulations: privacy; state, local and federal laws (i.e. privacy, reporting, harassment).

• Emergency procedures including who to contact.

• Tour the site.

Sample common sense rules for students

• Ask for help when in doubt.• Be punctual and responsible.• Call if you’re going to be late or absent.• Respect the privacy of everyone at

community site.• Show respect for everyone you meet.• Be appropriate, courteous and kind.• Dress modestly and safely.• Be flexible; community needs aren’t always

predictable.

Stricter guidelines• DO NOT report under the influence of drugs or

alcohol.• Do not loan money.• Do not make promises you can’t keep.• Do not tolerate any sexual harassment or

inappropriate behavior.• Do not engage in business relationship.• Do not tolerate any verbal exchanges that might

show discrimination of any kind.• Do not enter into any personal relationships.

Community partners must be trained -- just like

students• Require designated representatives of all

community partner organizations to attend a substantive training session prior to the start of the semester.

• No other way to assure that rules, regulations and expectations are shared and understood.

• Include time for faculty and community partners to work together to shape the class and its service experience.

Planning activities

The first day of service What “ice-breakers” will be used to

introduce students to their on-site clients? It’s like 6th grade!

The last day of serviceWhat is the plan for closure and recognition of participants?

Everything in betweenJust like teachers, service-learning students need “lesson plans.”

Communicating

• The number one problem and the number one solution.

• How will communication between faculty members, students and community partners be maintained? Be specific Exchange contact information for every

contingency

Evaluating and assessing• In service-learning, every party evaluates

every other party.• What indicators or outcome measure will

be used? Students evaluate placement Students evaluate faculty Community supervisors evaluate students

• How will the partnership as a whole be assessed?

• How will needed adjustments be made?

Risk management

• Complex and campus specific but: Community sites should identify and put

inherent risks in writing (facility hazards, location concerns, client or personnel issues)

Make a plan to communicate these risks to campus official and to students

Make a plan on how future risks will be identified and communicated

Sample forms

• Sample forms are available at:• http://www.csun.edu/

communityengagement/• Look under “Risk Management Support for

Service-Learning Courses” and “Risk Management Forms for Students” to see how my university handles the issue.

Additional Resources: National Service Learning

Clearinghouse• http://www.servicelearning.org/• Search for many articles under “community

partnerships”• By discipline ( Community Partnerships for

Health)• By issue (economic development)• By type of Higher Ed (faith-based)• By country

Partnerships that Work: the Stories and Lessons from Campus/Community CollaborationsAuthor: Charlene J. Gray Author: James M. Heffernan Author: Michael H. Norton Publication Date: n.d. Publisher: Campus Compact

Creating Our Identities in Service-Learning and Community EngagementAuthor: Shelley H. Billig Author: Barbara A. Holland Author: Barbara E. Moely Publication Date:  2009 Publisher: Information Age Publishing, Inc. Pages: 288

Achieving the Promise of Authentic Community-Higher Education Partnerships: Community Case StoriesInstitution: Community-Campus Partnerships for Health Publication Date:  2007 Publisher: Community-Campus Partnerships for Health

Defining Characteristics of Partnership Identity in Faculty Community PartnershipsEmily Janke, Information Age Publishing, 2009

Questions

Maureen RubinCalifornia State University, Northridge

maureen.rubin@csun.edu818-677-8821

www.innovativeeducators.org