It is of utmost importance for the University to have an accurate count of our Service Learning offerings. In accordance with the Academic Vision and the goals of Life Transformative Education, or LTE, Service Learning furthers the University in its mission and vision through this innovative and effective pedagogy and connects us deeper to the communities surrounding Connecticut and further.

Courses utilizing the pedagogy of Service Learning can be designated and searchable in the Peoplesoft system. We ask all faculty who utilize service learning to complete this submission process in order to get your course designated. Having courses designated will allow the University to have accurate information for reporting and quality control purposes. It will also provide students necessary information about their coursework.

* Please note that once your course is designated as SL, it will continue to be designated. If the course number is no longer associated with Service Learning, please email julia.yakovich@uconn.edu.

*See application below.*

Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by the Service Learning Committee.

In completing this application and upon receiving the service learning designation you can anticipate several benefits:

1 – Students will have clear expectations of service learning activities and participation when they sign up for your class.

2 – Academic Advisers will have the ability to communicate service learning specific courses with students as part of a cluster of courses or an engaged department or program.

3 – You will have access to support from the Office of Outreach and Engagement, Service Learning, in addition to the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) for your course.

4 – Service Learning courses can and should be reported in Digital Measures self-evaluation at the end of the year under categories such as “Teaching Innovations and Other Pedagogical activities”; “Other Instructional Activities”; “Public and Community Service”; “Other Industry/Faculty Collaboration”.

5 – You can contribute to a growing group of community engaged scholars and those who contribute to Community Based Participatory Research, or CBPR.

6 – You can contribute to meaningful data about Service Learning scholarship and teaching across the University and collaborate on meaningful and intentional community work that also leads to research and grant funding.

*Courses will automatically be re-designated in the Peoplesoft System. If a course will be taught by a different professor and will not be SL, make julia.yakovich@uconn.edu aware so it can be undesignated.

Important deadlines: 

One month prior to course registration of any particular semester. Courses will be reviewed on a rolling basis and can be designated retroactively for data collection and analysis purposes.  

Please see the Office of the Registrar for calendar updates.

Syllabus Checklist:

___ the definition of service learning in syllabus

___ a definition for reflection and add specific placeholders for reflective activities throughout the semester in the syllabus and how that will benefit student learning

___ why you have decided to utilize service learning and how this teaching strategy lines up in meeting course goals and objectives

___ description of the project/s or activities and how they will help meet course goals objectives in syllabus

Assistance can be found also in the Faculty Guidebook and please contact Julia M. Yakovich at julia.yakovich@uconn.edu for any additional support needed.