Service-Learning

Service-Learning Guidelines

The uncertainty and challenges that the coronavirus presents necessitate forward thinking about approaches to the continued delivery of quality education in this new era of Covid-19. The Service-Learning Council approved on June 3, 2020 the following guidelines pertaining to the Service-Learning Program:

1. All Service-Learning courses will offer hybrid service experiences--both in-person and digital service options should be available through the course professor.

2. Registration and time tracking for Service-Learning Students MUST be done online.

2. All decisions regarding contact Service-Learning experiences will be continuously reviewed according to local and national health regulations.

3. For No-Contact Service-Learning, the following guidelines are recommended:

Faculty should connect and organize for students with a formal service organization (i.e. food bank, church, school).
Faculty must participate in the Service-Learning No-Contact Orientation forum at the beginning of the quarter.
Students must participate in non-paid project equivalent to 14 hours of work d. Project must be a current activity connected to course content.
Project must include a reflective writing assignment.

4. For in-person Service-Learning experiences, the following guidelines are recommended:

All Service-Learning students are required to be COVID-19 Vaccinated for in-person service activities.
All Service-Learning students are required to wear a mask to their on-site service activities.
Adherence to Federal, state, and county guidelines relative to Covid-19 which may include:
- Appropriate PPEs (masks, gloves, etc.)
- Social distancing
- Handwashing, hand sanitization
- Temperature check
- Federal quarantine travel guidelines
Adherence to University and Service-Learning Council guidelines
- All students and representatives of the University will adhere to Federal, state, and county guidelines relative to Covid-19.
- Community partners will agree and adhere to a MOU (memorandum of understanding) drafted by the Service-Learning Council.
- Faculty and students will attend their respective Service-Learning orientation online forum.
- All University employees and students will adhere to University quarantine policy.
Adherence to Community Partner/Site guidelines relative to Covid-19
- Community Partner/Site will adhere to University guidelines.
- The University and its students will adhere to site-specific guidelines if they do not go against established Federal, county, and University guidelines.
- If circumstances force an early end to the contact Service-Learning experience for students, faculty should work with the Service-Learning office to find an appropriate alternative.

Track-it-Forward

In 2022, the Office of Service-Learning implemented a digital time keeping application called "Track-it-Forward". This volunteer time tracking software allows volunteers to track their own hours so that our office and professors can successfully measure student service.

Track-it-Forward Flowchart

Service-Learning Office acquires ALL Service-Learning rosters from the Records Office and/or faculty. (Weeks 1-2)
Service-Learning Office uploads all registered Service-Learning student information into Track-it-Forward. (Week 3)
**Students receive Track-it-Forward account information from the automated system. (Week 3)
Students complete Track-it-Forward registration, including the name of their community partner, on the Track-if-Forward website. (Week 3)
Students clock their Service-Learning hours at the Track-if-Forward website or app weekly. (Weeks 3-10)
Service-Learning Office sends faculty confirmation of tracked student hours. (Weeks 10-11)

**Students may watch the video below for help on how to register without the TIF invitation using their La Sierra email address.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtMv21EUbrA

Service at La Sierra

Service-Learning incorporates community-based volunteer service into academic instruction. It is driven by the learning objectives of the course and, at the same time, responds to the real needs of community organizations. In support of La Sierra University's mission, "To Seek, To Know, To Serve," all students are required to complete three Service-Learning designated courses as a part of the university studies requirements (see below). Junior transfer students must complete two Service-Learning experiences; senior transfer students must complete one Service-Learning experience.

A maximum of one Service-Learning requirement may be waived by serving as a long-term student missionary (9 months) along with the required Portfolio, supporting documents and approval by the Portfolio Committee. Contact the Office of Service-Learning for more information regarding the Portfolio Waiver.

No more than two Service-Learning courses may be taken by students in one quarter.

Service-Learning courses can be found by searching in the General Ed pull-down menu of the Online Course Schedule and are identified by S1R (Service-Learning Required). When a class offers Service-Learning as an option, students who do not wish to participate in the service should DROP the S1R section and register for S1O on the first day of that class.

Our Mission is to

Provide opportunities for students to engage in meaningful service that enriches the classroom.

Foster civic responsibility and commitment to service in students.
Support faculty in the development and implementation of service-learning courses.
Develop mutually satisfying long-term partnerships with community organizations.

Our Commitment

We are committed to high quality service-learning courses that effectively integrate service and learning by:

Providing faculty with up-to-date best practices in service-learning pedagogy.
Helping faculty to find appropriate community partners who will collaborate in achieving the learning goals of the class.
Encouraging ongoing faculty development that will enhance the quality of the service-learning experience.
Supporting students through adequate orientation and assistance in their community sites.
Developing and maintaining mutually satisfying, long-term partnerships with community agencies that support the academic objectives of service-learning courses.
Maintaining an effective structure that ensures the smooth operation of the service-learning program.

Without a doubt Service-Learning was one of the most memorable educational moments throughout my time at La Sierra University. I am proud to have graduated from La Sierra and to have done Service-Learning. La Sierra University taught me to be a life long learner and to continually seek opportunities to serve our community.

Demitrio Camarena

I am grateful for this experience. God put me there to increase my faith and to release my inhibitions. I would never have stepped into a place like that if it had not been for the class requirement.

Stephani Troyer, Religion & Rationality

National Recognition

La Sierra University has been nationally recognized for our commitment to service by the:

2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll Presidential Awardee
President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll (2007-2015) “With Distinction” (2007-2008, 2010-2014)
Carnegie Foundation classification in the area of Curricular Engagement (2008)
Carnegie Foundation re-classification in the area of Community Engagement (2015)

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll program recognizes colleges and universities in the Honor Roll with Distinction and the Honor Roll categories. La Sierra University has been included in the honor roll program awards each year since an initial award in 2008, most years included on the Honor Roll with Distinction. In 2013, La Sierra University received the Presidential Award. The recognition commends La Sierra’s achievements in the Promise Neighborhood special focus area, which also aligns with President Obama’s education and innovation priorities. La Sierra was cited for its efforts during the 2011-12 school year to aid the region’s residents through various outreach programs including Service-Learning classes, Enactus team activities in economic empowerment, and other civic involvement.

In 2015, La Sierra University became one of 157 higher education institutions to receive the Carnegie Foundation re-classification in area of Community Engagement. La Sierra is among 33 California universities and colleges, and the only Riverside institution, to receive this designation. La Sierra University is the only Seventh-day Adventist school in the country to be recognized in the area of Community Engagement.

Contact Us

Gladwyn Hall #205
(951) 785-2185
service@lasierra.edu

In-Person and Digital Office Hours

The Office of Service-Learning will be operating limited in-person and virtual office hours. You may schedule an appointment with the Assoc. Director, Renee Hess, at:
rhess@lasierra.edu

You may reach the Service-Learning secretary at:
SLsecretary@lasierra.edu
(951) 785-2185

Service-Learning