Service-Learning
For Wisconsin communities
Why Service-Learning?
Service-Learning impacts wherever you live and work
Service-Learning strengthens both education and community. Service-Learning helps build valuable partnerships between educational institutions and community-based organizations and businesses. Service-Learning projects meet local needs and provide opportunities for individuals to work collaboratively with others in their communities.
Partnering with higher education institutions
Higher education institutions throughout Wisconsin can provide you with knowledgeable and skilled faculty, staff and students who can bring many benefits to your programs.
Understanding Service-Learning in higher education
- What does Service-Learning require from you?
- Types of student involvement in the community
- Benefits of Service-Learning for students and institutions
- Three criteria for academic Service-Learning
Tools to develop your own project
- Community Partner Asset Map - Map your pre-existing community partnerships and what each of you contribute. Then identify potential new partnerships in your community.
- Community Service-Learning Project Development Form
Finding Service-Learning partners
- The different types of higher education institutions
- Contact your local county UW-Extension office
- Learn more about the UW Colleges and contact your local UW Colleges campus using the UW Colleges state wide faculty directories
- Other tips for making contact
Key components to effective partnerships
- Partnership Tips: Working with Colleges and Universities, Points of Light Foundation
- Principles of Good Community-Campus Partnerships, Community Campus Partnerships for Health
Planning a Service-Learning partnership
- Example project proposal from UW-Eau Claire
Some campuses prefer that groups interested in establishing a partnership submit a project proposal. - Tips for planning a Service-Learning partnership from the UW-Madison Morgridge Center
Includes ideas for how to plan for positive communication, funding activities, marketing the partnership, evaluation, and celebrations. - Questions to ask before starting a partnership
- Tips for working around the academic calendar
Funding partnerships
- Raising Funds for Service-Learning Partnerships fact sheet, National Service-Learning Clearing House. Written for primarily K-12 and higher education audiences, but good ideas for you and your Service-Learning partners when seeking funding.
Managing Service-learners
- Suggestions from the UW-Madison Morgridge Center
- Expectations for All Parties when a Service-Learning or Community-Based Research Project is Undertaken
- Developing a Job Description
- Keys to Retention
- Sample agreements and forms
- The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse provides great example forms such as but not limited to: Letter of Understanding and Student Service-Learning Contract and the Hours Reporting Form
- Example UW-Fond du Lac Service-Learning reflection log
- Example UW-Fond du Lac student placement agreement form
Risk management and liability
- Risk Management and Liability in Higher Education Service-Learning fact sheet , National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Written for primarily K-12 and higher education audiences but important issues for you and your partners to consider.
- Identifying and Managing Risks, UW-Madison Morgridge Center
- Informed Consent for Service-learners, UW-Madison Morgridge Center
- Explore liability and risk management further with resources provided by the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
Reflecting on Service-Learning
- Reflection and Community Agencies , UW-Madison Morgridge Center
Evaluating partnerships
- Tools and Methods for Evaluating Service-Learning in Higher Education fact sheet (National Service-Learning Clearinghouse). Written for primarily K-12 and higher education audiences, but good ideas to help you and your partners jointly plan evaluation strategies.
- Learn and Serve America
- Ideas for evaluating at the host site (Learn and Serve America)
- Sample form for evaluating students (Eastern Virginia Medical School)
- Sample partnership feedback form (UW-Madison Morgridge Center)
Community-based research
Get higher education faculty, staff and students involved in your community-based research projects. Use these resources to plan successful community-based research partnerships.
- Information from the UW-Madison Morgridge Center
Community standards
Service-Learning is a tool used to meet the genuine needs of a community. Learn more about standards of excellence for Service-Learning partnerships between educational institutions and the community at: http://comm-org.wisc.edu/sl/news.php.