Getting Started
After Academic Service-Learning (AS-L) has been introduced
as an option in your class, you need to consider :
- What type of service do you wish to do ...mentoring, visiting,
tutoring, etc.?
- What populations do you wish to serve ...elderly, children,
homeless, etc.?
- Would you like to serve closer to home or near the
University?
- What times are you available to serve?
Make an appointment or drop by the Office of Academic
Service-Learning in Flynn Hall, room 208, in order to talk
with a respresentative. Be sure to bring your class syllabus
with you as well as any other handouts that outline your Academic
Service-Learning requirements. After discussing your
project, you will be given an “Agency Information Sheet” which
contains community site information, a contract, a log sheet and a
medical release form (if needed).
Contacting a Community Site
Representative
- Call the contact person listed on the Agency sheet.
- State your name and that you are a St. John’s University AS-L
student. Also give the name of the class for which you are
doing this AS-L component.
- Ask the contact person to schedule an intake interview for
you.
- Let the contact person know the number of hours that you can
assist at the site.
- Confirm the service site address and ask for additional
directions if you need them.
The First Visit
- At your intake interview, be sure to take with you:
- Academic Service-Learning Contract
- Academic Service-Learning Log
- Course Syllabus
- Plan a schedule with the site supervisor that attempts to meet
both your needs as well as the agency needs. Remember—this
interview is a professional interivew and you are there to perform
a service.
- Fill out the Academic Service-Learning Contract with the site
supervisor. This form must be returned to your faculty
member for a final signature of approval.
- Hand deliver the completed contract (all four copies) to the
Office of Academic Service-Learning in Flynn Hall, Room 208.
At the Site
- You are acting as a representative of St. John’s
University. Please try to be as courteous as possible to the
individuals that you are serving as well as to your fellow
workers.
- Be punctual and reliable in showing up to your AS-L
placement. AS-L should be treated similar to any job.
It is your responsibility to call your site supervisior when you
know that you will be late or absent for a scheduled service
commitment. Remember—people are counting on you!
- Whenever you are in unsure of what is expected of you, ask your
site supervisor for clarification.
- Be sure to keep track of the hours that you work by using the
“Academic Service-Learning Log” which was given to you. Log
your hours daily and ask your site supervisor to sign each
entry. This log is a two-part, pressure sensitive form.
The original sheet should be submitted to your faculty member and
the copy sheet should be submitted to your service site at the end
of your Academic Service-Learning commitment.
- All personal information that is revealed to you during your
AS-L project is to be treated with strict confidentiality!
You may discuss client’s personal information with professionals at
your service site, your faculty member or within the confines of
your class. Under no circumstances are any client’s personal
information to be discussed in any other situation.
- Always respect the privacy and dignity of those that you are
serving.
After You Leave for the Day
We highly recommend that you keep a daily journal of your
activites in order to more fully reflect upon your experiences at
the end of your course. Make entries into your journal as
soon as possible after you have left the community service
site.
At the End of the Course
- Fill out the “Academic Service-Learning Evaluation Form.”
This instrument is used by the Office of AS-L to assess all aspects
of the program. Since the questionnaire is anonymous, you can
feel free to be completely candid about your experiences.
Your feedback helps to keep the Office of AS-L informed so that we
can respond to student needs.
- Please thank you site supervisor in person or in writing upon
the completion of your AS-L project.
Practical Considerations
- Under no circumstances are students permitted to accept any
type of financial renumeration (salary, stipend, work study award,
etc.) in exchange for their Academic Service-Learning
commitment.
- Never give your phone number or address to anyone but your site
supervisior.
- Never give your personal money, food or medications to the
clients at the service agency.
- Never drive a community service site client in your car.
How Do I Complete the Academic Service
Contract?
The Academic Service-Learning Contract is a learning contract
between you, the community service site and your faculty
member. It is designed to fully outline the AS/L
experience so that all parties understand and approve the
project. It is for this reason that it is essential that the
following steps be followed in order to ensure your maximum
learning experience.
- Before going to the community service site for your intake
interview, completely fill out the section entitled “Student
Information.” In addition, complete as much of the “Project
Information” section as possible, using the AS-L requirements
outlined in your class syllabus.
- Bring the contract to your intake interview appointment.
Ask the supervisor to fill out the section entitled, “Agency
Information.”
- Together with the site supervisor, fully complete the section
entitled, “Project Information.” Remember, to use your course
syllabus in order to meet all requirements for your class as well
as to structure your service to reflect class content.
- Read and sign the “Student Commitment.” Ask the site
supervisor to read and sign the “Agency Supervisor” line.
- Bring the contract back to your next class for your faculty
member’s approval of the project. Have your faculty member
sign their section to indicate their final project approval.
- Return the completed contract to the Office of Academic
Service-Learning in Flynn Hall, Room 208.