To better serve students, the Department of Experiential Learning, in conjunction with the Service Learning Task Team, has established the procedure for designating courses with service learning. The service learning designation is a one-time approval process, meaning once approved faculty may integrate service learning into future courses without having to resubmit this form.
Service Learning Designation Request Forms Submission Deadlines
- Summer & Fall Courses – February 1
- Winter Courses – October 1
Helpful resources
- Service Learning Designation Questions
- Service Learning Student Timesheet
- Service Learning Course Design
- Service Learning Designation Example
- Substantive Project Example
- Reflection Assignment Example
- Resources for Students
- Service Learning Grading Process
Service Learning Section Designation Procedure
1. Complete the Service Learning Designation Request Form.This form allows faculty to describe how the service experience meets course outcomes.
- It's best to read "Tips for integrating Service Learning" first!
- This procedure is often paired with 1-2 hours of training.
- This form must be submitted according to the appropriate deadline.
- The designation form must meet the service learning approval criteria.
- A syllabus is also submitted as part of the approval process and must meet the service learning syllabus standards.
- Service learning language for the syllabus.
- See example syllabus.
2. The Service Learning Review Team will review the submitted materials and determine if the proposal meets the designation criteria.
- The Service Learning Review Team is composed of faculty and administrators.
- This process may take 3-5 business days.
- The team will ensure the form meets the criteria listed and offer suggestions to improve the service learning experience.
- If the course is not approved the first time, the faculty member will receive feedback and recommendations to meet the service learning course designation criteria.
Post-Approval Procedure
1. Once a service learning designation form is approved, notification will go out to the faculty member and sponsoring Department Head.
2. The faculty member is responsible to complete the service learning registration process each semester he/she integrates service learning.
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This allows the college to collect required information to add the service learning designation onto students transcript.
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Faculty can register online.
3. Service Learning Best Practices
- evaluate your experience
- invite your community partner(s) into your class to orient your students
- recognize your students - we can provide certificates
- take and share your photos.
- share your best practices around reflection, developing partnerships, gaining student buy-in, etc.
- "like" us on facebook!
Service Learning Professional Development
Contact the Director of Experiential Learning, Michael Schavey, to help you get started. Michael provides leadership for supporting faculty in their effort of integrating service learning into their courses. Faculty can receive support around building of community-campus partnership, assessment of student learning outcomes and the implications of risk management. Additionally, we recommend to have your service learning course reviewed by faculty within your department as well as your Department Head or Program Director.
The Director of Experiential Learning will support faculty in their completion of the Service Learning Designation Request Form. The plan allows faculty to outline how they plan to connect the service activity to identified course learning outcomes, institutional learning outcomes and identified community needs.
Contact Information
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Director of Experiential Learning, Michael Schavey (616) 234-4180, mschavey@grcc.edu