Service Learning Guide

Introduction to Service Learning

Read through this entire document before you begin your project so you know what is expected and can be prepared.

Service learning provides an opportunity for you as a student to meet with a community partner to engage in an experiential-learning project for a minimum of 20 hours during the course term.  If you currently are working within a Public Safety (PS) entity you can utilize your SLP with your employer. The experience should have reciprocity, meaning your service should benefit both those you are serving as well as increase your knowledge and skill in a particular area related to this course. The experience should have reciprocity meaning your service should benefit both those you are serving as well as increase your knowledge and skill in a particular area related to this course. 

Service Learning involves almost any helping activity. Here are some SLP ideas:

  • Tutoring EMS Student - UVU EMT, AEMT, Paramedic can be done virtually as well as face-to-face. Here you will need to contact the lead instructor for the program to identify if they have students with a need for a tutor.
  • Training an EMS Agency - Create a Training Course for a Service.
  • Taking Vitals & working with an assisted living facility - Provide clinical hands-on service.
  • Working with patients in any type of facility that is providing care.
  • Helping a refugee family - see what assistance they need to assimilate.
  • Participating in events at a nursing home – set up projects for clientele to participate in.
  • Implement a new technology tool or piece of equipment within an agency and how it will be integrated into the service (training & use). 

Visit UVU Center for Social Impact Links to an external site. to learn more.

You may find our ESMG 4500 Library Research Guide helpful in completing these assignments.

SL1: Activity Participation Agreement (module 1)

The UVU Activity Participation Agreement.pdf Download UVU Activity Participation Agreement.pdf form will need to be signed and submitted through this assignment.

SL2: Research Organizations (module 1)

Research ideas of various organizations/entities you might like to work with during the semester. The organization or agency must serve the community in a PS capacity (if you have questions regarding this, contact your instructor). I also have and can provide you with an entity to work with.
A couple areas you may be interested in here at UVU include:
  • Emergency Response Team (ERT) on main campus in Orem.
  • Tutoring EMS Students currently in our programs at UVU Provo campus.

SL3: Submit your SLP to Instructor (module 2) 

This week your Service Learning project will be established. Provide the instructor with your idea for your service-learning project in a word document that discusses the organization by name and their involvement with PS delivery. In addition, provide contact information of the organization to your instructor as well as a website if the organization has one. Your instructor will review this document and provide feedback regarding your choice. Remember that it is important to work with an organization involved in Public Services.  

SL4: Make an Appointment (module 2)

Using the letter of introduction Download letter of introduction contact organization to schedule a time for a meeting to discuss the needs of the organization.

  • Request an appointment and request 30-60 minutes of their time. This can be face to face, or through the use of appropriate technology.  
  • Prior to your meeting, ensure you have conducted research regarding the organization so that you are knowledgeable about the goals they attempt to achieve.
  • Dress professionally for meetings with organization.

Submit your appointment day and time and the name and contact information of the person and organization you will be meeting with.

SL5: Meet with Organization (module 3)

When you meet with the Organizational contact, be respectful of their time. Introduce yourselves, your project and ask what the organization needs that would be within the parameters of the project. Listen carefully and take detailed notes.

Explain what the organization can expect of you and what you will need from the organization as outlined below:

Organization and Student Responsibilities 

  • Organization will provide:
    • Project consultation and feedback
    • Project proposal sign off
    • Project close-out letter
  • Student will provide: 
    • Regular communication with organization
    • Project proposal draft/final
    • Service Log of hours
    • Presentation of completed project

SL6: Scope Your Project (module 3)

Following your initial meeting with the organization, consider ideas for your service learning project.  Communicating with the organization while in the development stage (by email, phone, or in person, whichever is more convenient for organizational representative) to ensure the ideas for the project will meet the needs of the organization.

SL7: Written Proposal (module 4)

You will develop a written plan or proposal for your project that must be signed off by the Organization.  The plan/proposal should include the following information in bullet point format:

  • Introduction to Organization
  • Clientele Served
  • Needs Assessment
  • Rationale and Focus
  • Goals or Purpose of Project
  • Implementation
  • Signature Line for organization

Once the plan/proposal has been reviewed and signed off by the organization, you will submit plan/proposal to instructor and begin the Implementation phase.

Introduce Project

  • How does this help a community or entity?
  • Who does this help?
  • What are the goals and purpose of this project?
  • How do you plan to implement and/or what are doing as a project? 

SL8: Implementation (module 5-6)

A minimum of 20 hours is required to execute the service learning project.  Keep detailed records of your Service Learning project. Use the Service Learning Download Time Log

to track your project activities, hours, costs, resources (human and other), dates, locations, take photos (ensure you have permission for photos), etc.

SL9: Close-out Letter/Time Log from Organization (module 7-11)

Once your project has been executed and service has been performed, you must provide a Download Time Log

to the organization and obtain a formal close-out letter on company letterhead indicating that the project was satisfactorily completed as planned.   Scan and submit your time log and close-out letter both signed by the organization through this assignment.

SL10: Showcase Projects (module 8-11)

You will prepare a presentation to showcase your project online.  This can be facilitated through audio/visual means with a file upload or link to the presentation in the appropriate discussion forum.  Be creative.  I am not expecting professional quality graphics, photography, or videography if you choose to go that route.  A thorough visual and text or audio representation of your project will be sufficient. View all presentations and comment on five (5) you find most interesting.

You may find the Format of Choice Guide helpful to you in completing this assignment.

SL11: Reflective Essay (module 8-11)

You are required to write a reflective paper on your overall experience with the service learning project.  This paper does not have a specified length however it is to be a thorough and substantive reflection of your experience. In addition to your own thoughts, please be sure to include the following:

  • Provide a brief description of the project.
  • Describe how working on this project affected you.
  • What was your biggest take-away from participating in this project?
  • If you could turn back time and do this project again, what would you do differently?
  • What is something you accomplished during this project that you are proud of?
  • When you consider the rest of your life, how will what you learned during this project be useful to you?
  • What advice would you give to students who will participate in this project next time?