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If you are considering starting a service learning class, feel free to contact us. Please be aware that it is necessary to have a site agreement with the collaborating agency in place before placing students in the field.
Some of our services include:
- Curriculum development
- Faculty development workshops
- Student/intern workshops
- Handbooks
- Forms (needs assessments, evaluations, etc.)
- One-on-one technical assistant for service learning course development or conversion
- Maintaining a service learning and community engagement resource library
- Providing events for showcasing students, faculty, and staff community engagement activities and opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Service Learning?
In 2009, the Dominguez Hills Academic Senate and Academic Affairs approved a formal definition of Service Learning: A Service-Learning Course is "a course that incorporates at least 15 hours of course-related community service with reflection activities to enhance students' understanding of course content, self-awareness, and civic engagement."
For more information check out our Service Learning Handbook [PDF].
Why should I incorporate service learning into my curriculum?
- It provides your students with concrete experiences.
- It allows your students to connect what they are learning and meeting a community need, while reflecting on the impact they are making.
- It's a great opportunity for publishing and research opportunities.
- SLICE will give you the workshop, resources, and the support to make this transition smooth and pain free!
What is Service Learning Pedagogy?
That's an easy one! Students take what they learn in the classroom and use it for the benefit of the community, followed up by a reflection activity to “lock in” the learning.
Some faculty mistakenly think that a service learning class is more work. Actually, as the students are taking responsibility for their learning, it can be less work for the instructor rather than more.
- Example: Students in the ANT 303 class help plan and organize the Annual American Indian Pow Wow. They meet weekly through the semester to learn how a pow wow is planned and organized. The night before, students meet to set up the grounds, and they volunteer for the two days of the event, helping dancers, relieving vendors, and helping with logistics. After the pow wow, they write in their journals speaking on what they feel they have learned.
- Another Example: Students from Environmental Science work with the Physical Plant to assess energy used for lighting on campus. They break into teams, and count lighting fixtures and types in each building. They write a report analyzing their findings and suggesting ways to conserve energy used for lighting. The present their findings at Student Research Day (reflection).
Feel free to make an appointment to discuss how we can help you design a fun and easy service learning project that will benefit your students as well as the community.
How do I get started?
Contact SLICE at (310) 243-2438. We will go over the procedures step by step.
Why is my service learning course not appearing on S4 or is not coded as “Service Learning,” on the course catalog?
A class will only appear on S4 as a service learning course if the course has been given the Service Learning Attribute. To request that your class be given or coded as a Service Learning course, please complete the CSU Community Engaged Learning Tool.
What if the site I want my students to serve in is not on the approved list?
The SLICE office conducts a screening process for interested community partners. Our office will initiate a service learning agreement that will be signed by the site and university (P-Class) office. Once both parties have signed the agreement, the organization becomes an approved site. The process for developing a new partnership can take up to seven weeks, depending on PCLASS workload and screening outcome.
Faculty members sometimes develop a partnership for their specific class and may not want to give other faculty access to that partnership. Our office can ensure that partnership is only accessible to specific faculty, per their request.