Timeline for Course Development
Planning a service-learning course requires ample preparation time. Faculty members interested in teaching a service-learning course should begin planning at least one semester prior to the semester the course will be offered. If the course is a Core Curriculum course, faculty members are advised to notify the dean of their discipline as soon as possible to obtain information on important deadline dates for approval.
The forms and templates shared in this timeline are in a PDF format. Please contact the Sturzl Center for editable versions of these forms and templates.
Step One
Consult
The Academic Service-Learning Director, Dr. Erinn Brooks, provides one-on-one consultation to help you plan your course or implement any step of the ASL Course Development timeline. Schedule a time to meet with the ASL Director, by emailing erinn.brooks@snc.edu or calling 920-403-2919.
Step Two
Design or Redesign Your Course
- Determine which service-learning model you will use
- Review the Principles of Good Practice for Service-Learning Pedagogy
- Use the Syllabus Development and Course Design Worksheet to develop your syllabus (Search the Campus Compact syllabi bank for sample syllabi)
- Determine if you need approval from the St. Norbert College Institutional Review Board if you plan to publish scholarship that uses evidence from your course
- Review the St. Norbert College Office of Risk and Property Management guidelines regarding waivers in courses with a community engagement component.
Step Three
Develop a Service-Learning Partnership
Review the Principles of Partnerships from the Haas Center for Public Service-
Consider the community needs and assets and how they might connect to the learning goals of your course.
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Research local community agencies and/or contact the Sturzl Center for assistance in sharing a request for proposals with community partners
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Select your community partner and schedule a meeting
- Meet with your community partner to discuss expectations and goals and develop a Memorandum of Understanding
Step Four
Apply for a CENG Designation
Once you have developed your ASL course, apply for a Community Engagement (CENG) Designation. This allows students to easily find your course within the timetable and prepare them for what to expect from the service-learning component.Step Five
Provide an ASL Orientation for Students
- Discuss the service-learning component on the first day of classes
- Walk the students through the syllabus and address any concerns, fears and expectations prior to beginning the project
- Introduce your students to Academic Service-Learning and the community partner(s)
- Review the Memorandum of Understanding with the students and clarify expectations
- Provide students with Academic Service-Learning Phone Call Tips and Scripts for guidance in contacting their community partner, if they are self-selecting their placement.
- Consider inviting the community partner to your class, as appropriate, to share the organization's mission
Step Six
Communication
- Support students in working with their community partner to develop a schedule for their service. Provide students with a method for verifying their service completion through a self-reported service-learning time log or a service-learning time log verified by the community partner.
- Provide a copy of the signed Memorandum of Understanding with students and the community partner
- Conduct site visits when appropriate and be in regular communication with the community partner
- Consider inviting your community partner to any service-related class presentations
Step Seven
Critical Reflection
- Learn more about the importance of Critical Reflection
- Consider possible reflection activities to use to facilitate critical analysis and reflection
Step Eight
Assess and Evaluate
- Seek feedback from students and the community partner about the service-learning experience
- Assist the Academic Service-Learning Advisory Committee with program assessment by sharing their survey with students in your course at their request
- Share data on the number of students serving with each community partner with the Sturzl Center at their request
Step Nine
Celebrate
- Recognize your community partner by sharing your appreciation
Step Ten
Scholarship
- Locate journals that can assist you in publishing articles to contribute scholarship to the field of community engagement and service-learning