Information

• What is Community Service Learning? How is Community Service Learning different from an Academic Internship? How is Community Service Learning different from Volunteerism or Community Service?
• Benefits of Community Service Learning

What is Community Service Learning?

Community Service Learning (CSL) is a teaching method that incorporates academic study and community service experiences. Students enrolled in a course offering a community service learning opportunity split their time between classroom instruction and service in the community. Students utilize the service experience as a course text for both academic learning and civic learning. Through service and guided self-reflection, students learn about themselves and their relationship to the community around them. Community service learning allows students to engage with real-world issues and social problems, and to work with community organizations to become "part of the solution."

How is Community Service Learning Different From an Academic Internship?

An Academic Internship seeks to increase the student's knowledge and experience in a particular field of study by providing students with practical experience in work settings relevant to the discipline or future profession. While internships and CSL involve students in the community to supplement students' academic learning, internships are not about civic learning. Internships develop and socialize students for a profession, and tend to be silent on student civic development.

How Is Community Service Learning Different From Volunteerism or Community Service?

Volunteerism or Community Service is the engagement of students in activities that focus on the service being provided as well as the benefits the service activities have on the recipients or community organizations. The students receive some benefits by learning more about how their service makes a difference in the lives of the service recipients, however; there is no tying the service experience back in to the academic content of a class.

Benefits of Community Service Learning

Benefits for students include:

• Students receive "real life experience" and new job skills Academic knowledge and insights Develop skills to work with diverse populations Opportunities to learn from community teacher Exploration of career options
• Critical thinking skills

Getting Started

• In a Community Service Learning Course (CSL)
• In a Community Based Organization (CBO) - Placement Site How do I Benefit from the Recording of CSL Hours in my Official Transcript?
• How to Contact Placement Sites

In a Community Service Learning Course (CSL)

Some courses at SFSU have a CSL option. Some of these courses meet GE, Minors, or Certificate program requirements. Check your syllabus or with course instructor. Clarify how many hours of service you need to perform during the semester. Click here for a list of CSL courses at SFSU.

At a Community Placement Site

After you have registered for the course and have a placement site that you will be working at, you have two ways to register with the OCSL in order to have the hours of service done at a placement site recorded in your official transcript. Step #1: Each student must complete the "Community Service Learning Plan (CSL-5)" form by registering with the Community Connections Database (CCDB) or by signing the hard copy given by the faculty member. By Registering with the CCDB: Students will be able to register with OCSL and will acknowledge that he or she has read and is familiar with student rights, responsibilities, and guidelines for student conduct. Students will be required to acknowledge that they have read all of the SFSU requirements. A two-page form will also be available to download for faculty, community based organizations, and student signature. This two-page form is NOT required, however, it is provided to ensure a quality placement for students. Click here to access the CCDB. •  The optional two-page form must be signed by the student, site supervisor, and course instructor.•  Form must be returned to course instructor and kept for the duration of the semester. By hard copy from Course Instructor: The required form "Community Service Learning Plan (CSL-5)" can be downloaded from our web site. Click here to download the CSL-5. •  The complete form must be signed by student, site supervisor, and course instructor. •  Form must be returned to course instructor and kept for the duration of the semester. Step #2: Before the end of the semester, the faculty member should provide student with a form that documents the student's activities and hours of service. OCSL has developed such a form for faculty to use, however, please check with faculty for the appropriate form to use. If faculty does not have a particular form, you can use the "Student Guidelines to Notation of CSL Hours in Official Transcripts (CSL-7)." The form must be completed by the student, site supervisor must sign, and form should be returned to faculty before the end of the semester. Click here to download the CSL-7.

How Do I Benefit From the Recording of CSL Hours in my Official Transcript?

If a student completes a CSL option in an approved CSL course, the CSL hours he/she has completed serving in an approved community site can be noted on their Official Transcript right next to their grades. This information can be important for scholarship committees, graduate and professional schools, credential programs, and employers. Before the end of the semester, the faculty member should provide student with a form that documents the student's activities and hours of service. The form should be returned to faculty before the end of the semester.Step #1: Student must participate in a CSL course. Please click here for a list of approved CSL courses at SFSU. Step #2: Once you have selected a course(s) check the class schedule to find out if it is being offered, the time and location of the class. Step #3: Register for the course, and show up on the first day of class and ask the instructor if the course has the CSL option. If there is a CSL option, indicate to the instructor that you want to participate in the CSL option. The faculty member will then give you all the necessary information, deadlines, and forms to complete before you begin service.

How to Contact Community Placement Sites

•  First of all, most non-profit organizations are very busy. Returning your call might not be their first priority. Be prepared to aggressively pursue the initial contact or meeting with your agency.•  Before your first phone call, know when you are available to spend time with the agency, and have something prepared as a way to introduce yourself. One example is: •  Hi, my name is __________. I am currently enrolled in a Service Learning course at San Francisco State University. I found your agency on the Office of Community Service Learning's database, and am very interested in volunteering some time to your cause. When could I meet with someone to discuss this further?•  If you have to leave a message, do not assume that the next move is theirs, call again. When you do leave a message, let them know when you will be available and even when during the day/week you are available to meet with them.•  When you initially meet with an agency, it is important to start your working relationship the right way. Treat the initial meeting as an interview; if nothing else, it is good practice. Definitely bring your resume - create one if you don't have one.•  Be on the lookout for situations or conditions, which would not work for you. This could be anything from the location of the agency, the hours they would need you, or the type of work you would be doing. The first priority is your safety, if you don't feel comfortable with the safety of the location that should probably eliminate that agency from your choices. Valuable time can be saved if you eliminate as many of these potential obstacles before the first meeting. If you are fairly certain you are uninterested in what you would be doing, decide as soon as possible, time is valuable - theirs and yours! To find detailed information, polices and procedures, and guidelines for community service leaning placements, please click here or click on "Placement Information" on the left navigation bar.

Student Log-In to the Community Connections Database (CCDB)

The Office of Community Service Learning maintains the Community Connection Database (CCDB), which is an online resource where SFSU students may search listings of current CSL and volunteer placement opportunities. To search OCSL's CCDB, please click here or click on "Community Connection Database" in the top navigation bar. Before you search the CCDB, make sure to download the CSL-4S form for instructions. To view the CSL-4S form, please click here.

Awards

OCSL Community Service Learning Student Award: every year OCSL offers the CSL Student Award. Nominations are typically accepted every fall for undergraduate and graduate SFSU students who have gone above for their placement agency, clients, or project(s) during their CSL placement. Please click here for guidelines and forms.

Students in Service Awards Program: The Students in Service (SIS) Program is an AmeriCorps service opportunity that encourages and rewards students who are dedicated to improving their communities. This scholarship provides an educational award for students who performed a certain number of hours of service in a CBO during a year. Please click here for guidelines, deadlines, and forms. For more information and other awards and scholarship opportunities please click here or click on" Awards" on the left navigation bar.

Jobs

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided as a matter of service. Although care is taken to provide correct information, there may be unintended errors, changes or deletions without notification. Users of this list communicate, contract and do business with individuals, companies or firms at their own risk. The California State University, officers, agents and employees of the California State University shall not be liable for any errors or omissions made in the compilation or printing of this list. Are you looking for a job that allows you to build skills and give back to the community? Check out the organizations below for jobs with a conscious:

• Community Service AmeriCorps Program (CSAP) is federally funded service program based at SFSU that employs US citizens and lawful permanent residents. CSAP is a multi-site program that brings together community organizations and SFSU resources in order to help organizations build the capacity to more effectively work with and support their volunteers, including community service learning students. To find out more information and download an application, please click here. America Counts Program is a federally funded work-study program in which OCSL hires approximately 20-30 students per academic year as tutors to work at K-8 after-school programs throughout San Francisco. America Counts tutors have a special emphasis on mathematics tutoring and only work during after school hours (usually 3pm-6pm). To find out more information, please click here. AmeriCorps Vista is a subsection of AmeriCorps that also employs US citizens in a year if service to work with non-profit organizations to develop poverty alleviation programs. To find out more information, please click here.
• Coro Fellows Program accepts applications every winter for their year long leadership program whose mission is to strengthen communities and the democratic process by preparing individuals for effective and ethical leadership in the public affairs arena. To find out more information, please click here.

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Community Connections Database (CCDB) | Placement Information and Forms | Resources