Continuum of Service and Community Engagement

Emphasis is on the receiver of the service. Person decides to help, usually a one-time service opportunity without pay. Not tied to a course. 

Examples:

• One day beach clean up
• Read Across America-read books at a school
• Pack food boxes at a shelter    

Emphasis is on the receiver and how the service can make a difference over time. It is done with non-profits and is organized volunteerism. Not tied to a course. 

Examples

• Tutor a child in math for a semester&
• Help build a house or structure
• Ongoing park clean up  

This is a capstone experience in the field that applies skills learned in a credential or certificate program. The focus is on student learning. 

Examples

• Student teaching in a school
• Nursing practicum in a hospital 
• Field work in a social services office

An internship is usually a capstone experience (more than 45 hours) where a student applies skills and material covered from a series of classes into the field. This experience normally requires no weekly reflection of the student, yet requires this student to culminate the semester with a project or research paper. 

Examples

• Working in a congressional office
• Working in social services office
• Working in a health organization

The focus is equally on student learning and service to the community. Academic content is blended with community service hours (10-45 hours) and students reflect on the connections between the classroom content and service placement. Tied to courses where content and service are equally balanced. 

Examples

• Students use architectural concepts to design and build a new wing to a non-profit
• Teachers design and teach arts lessons in an afterschool program and mentor staff
• Business students create a marketing plan for a non-profit