Faculty responsibilities to community partners

To help you cultivate a constructive relationship with your community partner(s), use the following checklist as you plan your semester.

Before the semester begins

1. Ask a new community partner to complete a Community Partners Application [Word document].
2. Visit the site location and meet your primary contact.
3. Invite your community partner to teach a class to present the service project.
4. Establish your teaching assistant’s responsibilities to the community partner (if applicable).
5. Ensure your community partner thoroughly understands the distinction of service-learning in contrast to volunteerism, community service and other kinds of experiential education.
6. Ensure your community partner thoroughly understands the goals of your course. Consider sending a copy of the syllabus.

After the semester begins

1. Schedule three or more contacts to check in with your community partner.
2. Contact your community partner toward the end of the semester to review the service project and discuss possible changes for future semesters.
3. Consider inviting your community partner to attend any end-of-semester presentations given by your students.
4. Send samples of journals and/or reflection papers that reveal student learning at your community partner’s site.