OCSL strives to create and maintain programs that are effective, useful, and tailored to the needs of our community partners, students and Faculty members. To reach this goal OCSL has conducted several program assessments on various aspects of our operations. Please visit the links below to view our assessments.

OCSL Impact on Community Agency Assessment (pdf)*

SL Faculty Perceptions of RTP (pdf)*


CSU Assessment of CSL Courses
In spring 2003, The California State University (CSU) administered a faculty survey at five campuses to assess the quality and impact of service learning outcomes.

From the assessment we learned that faculty instructional priorities might not be fully congruent with student learning outcomes that were assessed in this study. Therefore, the possible disconnect between the instructional priorities of faculty who teach CSL courses and our assessment measures may partly explain why meaningful student attitude changes were not found. To view the assessment click on the link below

CSU CSL Faculty Survey, Spring 2003 (pdf )*

CSL Evaluation of Courses
In the Fall of 1997 and Spring 1998, an assessment was done to evaluate the CSL program. These reports indicated that there is ample evidence that the CSL program at SFSU was meeting its goals regarding its effects on students. The majority of CSL participants agreed or strongly agreed they had acquired new job skills, critical thinking skills, academic knowledge and insights, and personal knowledge, experience and insights.

In collaboration with OCSL, the Public Research Institute at SFSU (PRI), developed an evaluation of students in CSL courses focusing on student attitudes and experiences. The PRI and OCSL developed questionnaires, and PRI administered beginning-of-semester and end-of-semester surveys to students in courses supported by OCSL and offering service learning options in fall 1997.

CSL Evaluation of Courses, Fall 1997 (pdf)*
OCSL conducted the Spring, 1998 Community Service Learning (CSL) Evaluation using the same methodology as the Fall 1997 assessment, and independently of PRI. The report describes comparisons of the responses of participants who chose to complete the service learning option as part of the CSL course versus those in the same course who did not choose the CSL option.

CSL Evaluation of Courses, Spring 1998 (pdf)*

CSU Assessment of CSL Courses
The California State University (CSU) has concluded the system wide assessment of the quality and impact of service learning courses outcomes.Data was collected from 7,800 students from 12 CSU campuses over three academic terms.

The findings support the effectiveness of community service learning as a vital factor in promoting student learning as long as students perform at least a total of 20 hours of service.

The CSU's full report and the student CSL pre & post-survey can be viewed from the links below:

CSU Assessment of Service-Learning Courses, Spring 2003 (pdf) *
- CSU CSL Student Pre-Survey (pdf)*
- CSU CSL Student Post-Survey (pdf)*