Community-Engaged Teaching

• Reciprocal benefits to community, faculty, and students
• Direct link between the service project(s) and course learning objectives
• Community service project(s) that address a need identified by the community partner and offer significant immersion for the students; a minimum of 10 hours of work applied to the service and ideally 20 or more
• Preparation for the service project, including information about the community partner and the related social issue(s)
• Structured, rigorous reflection integrated throughout the course to deepen the connection between the service experience and academic course content, to facilitate understanding of community engagement, and to explore personal learning
• Partnership and ongoing contact between faculty member and community partner(s), with the partners’ knowledge being incorporated into the education
• Grading procedures that assess the students’ knowledge and critical analysis of the experience vis-à-vis the course learning objectives (not for the service alone)
• Opportunity for community partners to provide feedback about the project(s), students, and the service-learning process
• The WCU Statement of Service-Learning included in the syllabi (see below)
• Release of liability form signed by students (facilitated by faculty, form provided by CCESL)

• Direct Service - students learn about the community partner and clients through volunteerism at the site.
• Indirect Service - the partner brings a community problem to the students, who primarily work on the project off-site throughout the semester.
• Research & Advocacy - students gather information about an area of interest for the partner or work to create awareness or action regarding a community need.

This class is designated as a Service-Learning Course (SLC). At WCU, SLCs integrate critical reflection and purposeful community service as central components of the course to achieve the following goals: deepen academic learning outcomes, address a need identified by the community, and enhance students’ sense of civic responsibility to local, regional, national, or global community needs. Community organizations serve as co-educators with the faculty member. The community service hours in SLCs count toward WCU’s SPARK Award Program. To learn more about how you can become involved in the SPARK Award Program and other community service opportunities, please contact WCU’s Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL).

• Comply with the WCU Student Code of Conduct
• Travel in pairs or groups as much as possible; if traveling alone, tell a classmate or friend about your service site/location and the (approximate) time you expect to return to campus.
• Drive carefully.
• Keep your cell-phone handy in case of emergencies, such as the breakdown of your car; however, do not use your cellphone while operating a vehicle.
• Dress appropriately and if in a virtual environment, adhere to appropriate social standards (i.e. consider your apparel, background, noises, etc.)
• Use appropriate language.
• These are substance-free activities. Do not consume alcohol, regardless of your age, and do not perform services under the influence of illegal substances.
• Follow all rules and/or guidelines of the agency for which you are serving
• Do not engage in activities beyond the scope of your service project.
• Do not give agency clients a ride in a private motor vehicle.
• Do not engage in or tolerate talk or behavior of a sexual nature; and if you feel harassed, tell your agency supervisor, course instructor, and/or the service-learning project coordinator.
• Do not enter into an amorous or sexual relationship with a client during the term of your service.
• During the term of your service, do not engage in any type of private business activity with a client which may compete with your service-learning activity.
• Do not have contact with anyone in the service setting in a harmful and/or violent manner.
• Inform the agency representative of any problems that occur while you are performing services.
• If you feel uncomfortable with or unsafe at your current service site, contact your course instructor, project coordinator, or the Center to report your concerns and to request an alternate site.

*Prohibited Activities*: There are certain activities that Western Carolina University students, faculty and staff may not perform in the course of their service learning/community service projects. The prohibited activities include:

• Aiding or engaging in partisan political activities
• Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes
• Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, or engaging in any form of proselytizing
• Activities that pose a significant safety risk to participants
• Assignments that displace employees

First call 911 or appropriate service. If on campus, WCU Campus Police can be reach at 828.227.8911 for emergencies and 828.227.7301 for non-emergencies.

Community experience/service-learning participants—including students, faculty, and community partners—involved in any unusual incident (risky or hazardous situation) related to a WCU project should submit a report to CCESL. The report should include the following information:

• Student’s name and contact information
• Agency’s and site supervisor’s name
• Faculty member’s name
• Date and location of incident
• Synopsis of incident