La Salle University Service-Learning Courses
Criteria and Approval Process
The University's Curriculum Committee has approved the following definition and criteria for a course to receive the Service-Learning (SL) designation. The Service-Learning Advisory Board has been charged with the responsibility for reviewing courses both with a currentSLdesignation and for new courses.
The value in having a course designated as service-learning is related to our mission as well as good educational practice. La Sallerecognizes the importance of SL for our students’ development,and as an educational strategy to realize its mission. SLfosters critical thinking and problem solving while also encouraging students to examine their responsibility as citizens "toward responsible engagement with the life of their times" (William M. Sullivan, "The Twin Elements of Learning: Knowledge and Judgment, "AAC&U'sLiberal Education, Vol. 96. No. 3). Moreover, we expect that La Salle’s future core will encourage engaged learning practices, including service-learning, under curricular requirements.
As an urban, Catholic university, La Salleseeks to embraceengaged pedagogies as a social and moral covenant. This suggests taking students beyond a charity model of service to an examination of the structural issues which created the need for service. Therefore, at its best,SLstrives to exposestudents to the larger systemic issues ofjustice, and to work for a more perfect human society.
Service-Learning Definition and Criteria
In order for a course to be labeled a SL course, the following criteria meet both national standards as well as best practices that have developed at La Salle over the last decade.
Service-Learning:
· is a teaching and learning strategy.
· provides students the opportunity topractice,perform, and observe the theories and practical applications of course content.
· awards academic credit based on the student’s demonstration of learningcoursecontent, and notsimplyon participation in the service.
· engages students in a minimum of 5 hours of service during the semester.
· includes structured and on-going reflectionon theinterface ofservice and classroom experiences through a mix of writing, reading, speaking, and listening, individually and in groups.
· is most effective with a sustained commitment throughout the semester.
· is designed to meetcommunity-identified needs.
Complete these steps to apply for Service-Learning Designation
Draft a 1-2 page document that details how your course includes each of the following:
1. Identify the course learning objectives that will be enhanced through the engagement/service experience.
2. What service will students provide and for what length of time?
3. What reflection methods (minimum of two types) will be used to help students understand the connection between their service and the content of the course?
4. How will you prepare students for real world engagement that includes cultural awareness, seeing both community assets and needs, establishing a reciprocal relationship, and growing in these understandings over time? What role will the community have in the partnership?
5. How will you evaluate the learning that students have derived from the service experience?
Submit your application along with a copy of your syllabus and any related assignment instructions to the Director of Service-Learning, Tara Carr-Lemke, at , who will share the materials with the Service-Learning Advisory Board. The Board will evaluate the course in light of the definition and criteria noted above and may return the materials to the faculty person with feedback or suggested edits. To receive the designation for the Fall semester, submit documents by March 1st and for the Spring semester by October 1st. Once the designation has been granted, the registrar and deans’ offices will be notified. A “SL” designation will accompany the course title and be listed on the course schedule. Please note that approval for a service-learning designation will generally be approved for a specific course section and specific instructor, except in the case when a department runs each section of the course identically.
Establishing a Community Partnership
It is also important to confirm that the agency with which you want to partner has been vetted by the university. This process is conducted to comply with safety protocols. For a list and description of approved sites, go to http://wp.lasalle.edu/cel/ and follow the Service-Learning link to “Our Community Partners.”
If you would like to use a site that has not yet been approved, please follow these steps:
1. Obtain course approval from theService-Learning Advisory Board.
2. Submit a site description (name, location, contact information) toTara Carr- Lemke() and Regina Gauss-Kosiek ().
3. Allow one month for a site visit and memo of understanding to be completed by University Ministry and Service.
a. A representative of University Ministry and Servicewill contact the site and set up a time to meet and tour the facility. During the visit, the site is inspected for basic safety measures and the contact person is asked some basic questions to verify that they understand the role they play (verifying hours, evaluating students, and helping with reflection if necessary).
b. Once the site visit is complete, a site audit form will be completed with basic descriptions of the facility, roles that are available, and if there are any concerns or recommendations for a specific site, i.e. travel during the day, do not take public transportation alone at night to this location.
4. You will be contacted when the process is complete and your students can begin to work at the site.
Course Approval Process
Service-Learning (SL) Courses (course already exists, just adding SL component) / Faculty Develops SL Component to Existing Course => Department Reviews/Approves SL Component according to departmental protocol => Service-Learning Advisory Board Reviews/Approves => SL Director Notifies Registrar and Deans’Offices
Service-Learning Courses (new course with SL component) / Faculty Develops New Course with SL Component => Department Reviews/Approves New Course with SL Component according to departmental protocol => Service-Learning Advisory Board Reviews/Approves => Home School CC Reviews/Approves => Other Schools’ CCs Review/Approve => FYI to University CC and Registrar
Following Approval
1. Faculty might reach out to SL Director to alert her that they are offering a SL course next semester => SL Director notifies Dean’s Offices about option for students =>Chair or PD adds course to roster/Br. Ed includes on schedule
And/or
2. SL Director reviews rosters that have been submitted by Chair to Br. Ed for SL options => SL Director reaches out to faculty members teaching past SL courses to make sure upcoming course is not SL => if it is (and has not been designated SL in roster) SL Director notifies Br. Ed of this change => SL Director notifies Deans’ Offices about option for students