Information for Community Partners
I work for a local nonprofit agency and would like to explore the possibility of having Loyola service learning students volunteer at my agency. How can I begin this process?
Fill out this form. A staff member from the Office of Service Learning will be in touch soon to learn more and schedule a site visit.
How are service learning students different from ordinary student volunteers?
Good question! Loyola students do a lot of great volunteer work throughout the greater New Orleans area. In many cases, this is planned by a student club as a way to reach out to the community. Service learning students volunteer in conjunction with an academic course they're taking. Professors in many departments incorporate service and volunteer work into their classes as a way to enrich student learning. This means that service learning students have an added level of accountability for their service work.
What sorts of work do Loyola service learning students do?
Lots of things! Most Loyola students have the basic skills needed for most volunteer positions, but many have additional gifts in music, art, math, languages, sports, etc. You should clearly describe the tasks you hope service learning students will perform and train them accordingly. You should also spend some time orienting students to your agency (programs, tasks, core values, mission, etc.).
Direct service experiences are usually preferable to indirect service experiences (such as filing or computer work). Students generally learn more when they have person-to-person contact with the clients or guests at your agency.
I have Loyola service learning students volunteering at my agency and I have some concerns. What should I do?
First, talk to the student about your agency's expectations. Be clear and direct. Second, call or email the Office of Service Learning (504-865-2283, sl@loyno.edu) to discuss your concerns. The staff can work with service learning professors, students and agencies to resolve problems and make the service learning experience better for everyone. Finally, fill out this evaluation. Your feedback is important and will be taken into account when students are graded.
