Practical
Tips
for Agency Success
-
Remember Service Learners are students not volunteers.
Supervisors
must always keep in mind that not only do Service
Learning students want to help meet important community needs,
they are also using the experience as a basis
for understanding their college course. Students are
receiving academic credit for learning through their service efforts.
Help students think about what the experience means to them, the organizational
context, and overall societal issues and impacts.
- Plan ahead.
Clear, well planned Service Learning placement descriptions outlining
tasks, responsibilities, and time commitments must be prepared in cooperation
with the Loyola course instructor and given to the Service Learning
Office Director, the student, and the instructor.
- Be aware that
some students may not match your needs - be selective.
Although
the course instructor will refer student Service Learning candidates
to your agency, you will make the final selection. If a student's qualifications
and/or motivations are not in harmony with your needs,
it is your right and obligation to request a different student.
- Orient, Train,
and Supervise.
Students
require carefully structured orientation
to your agency, staff and clients. This should answer questions such
as: "Where do I fit in? How do I get things
done? What do I need to be aware of ? What is expected of me?"
Introduce students to staff, give them a tour of the facility, and make
sure they feel comfortable and welcome. Students should be familiarized
with your mission and key community and societal issues facing your
agency (i.e. "the bigger picture" - why you do what you do).
- Be realistic with
your time commitment expectations of students- think semester.
Remember that you will have to be aware of the
semester schedule and adapt accordingly.
- Be an involved
teacher and mentor to the students.
Throughout the assignment the supervisor should help the student interpret
the experience and the relationship between what he/she is doing and
the world of the agency and others. The student-supervisor
relationship is one of the most significant parts of the student's experience
and often determines the success of placement. The
supervisor is truly a partner with the course instructor in the student's
education and should view him/herself as an "educator."
- Say Thanks.
Students liked to be appreciated. This may take many forms, from
letters of recognition, to thank you notes, to a simple acknowledgement
of a job well done. They need to see how their
work is important to your agency's mission.
- Talk with us.
Keep
the course instructor and Service Learning Director aware of any concerns,
problems, successes, and/or other issues related to the placement and/or
student.
Updated
September 19, 2008
