Service Learning Mission

The Gavilan College Service Learning Program provides avenues for students, faculty, and partner organizations to promote justice, diversity, and social responsibility by integrating academic experiences with service.

Goals	Objectives	Action steps	Date
1. To improve student learning and success	Infuse SL into curriculum	Offer students an AA in Social Science with a focus on Community Studies. Rewrite learning outcomes compatible with Service Learning in six Social Science courses and three non-Social Science courses.	2009 2009
	Help SL students succeed	Collect and compare data among teachers using SL to maximize student success and learning
	Give teachers tools they need to promote student success	Train sixteen teachers in Service Learning best practices, standards and ethics. Implement a paid student site supervisor program using federal work study, grant, and college funding.	2010 2010

2. To ensure adequate resources for a long-term, successful Service Learning program at Gavilan College	Provide adequate support for SL	Raise grant funds for faculty mentor, student supervisor, and community liaison positions until permanent funds can be found. Collect data on student success for funders. Ensure long-term authorship of SL webpage by qualified college staff.
	Involve faculty in a variety of disciplines in SL	Increase the number of faculty trained and engaged in Service Learning to sixteen. Involve at least six part-time faculty in Service Learning in at least four academic departments.	2010 2012
	Expand agency partnerships and deepen support for agencies	Increase the number of partner agencies oriented and involved in SL at Gavilan to fifty. Provide training and orientation so agencies successfully integrate SL into their work to foster longterm partnerships	2010
	Establish incentive program for faculty	Fund incentives for faculty who convert classes to SL. Explore load and re-distribution in recognition of the fact that Service Learning requires faculty energy above and beyond the norm.
	Institutionalize a scholarship program for students	Provide permanent scholarship funds for SL students
	Educate the community about SL	•Be visible at Gavilan by using Gavilan media, in college activities and events •Be visible in the community using media and presence at events and activities •Create short video on Gavilan SL for website and streaming video in Student Center •Create brochures and marketing materials for SL

3. To ensure that students, faculty, and partners have meaningful, high-quality service learning experiences	Ensure excellent program coordination and administration	• Fund a part-time community liaison coordinator to ensure strong, frequent communication and collaboration to foster partnerships between agencies, the college, faculty, and students. Fund a stipend for a faculty mentor on an on-going basis to recruit, train, and assist faculty in implementing Service Learning. Fund student supervisors at five key sites to offload agency partners, extend faculty capabilities, and help students succeed at their placements. Define Best Practices and expectations for SL at all levels, disseminate, and put feedback mechanisms in place for all participants. Develop and implement risk management policies and procedures.	2010 2009 2010 2009
	Ensure excellent collaboration at every level	Improve communication with and outreach to agencies Make faculty and community partners frequent visitors at each other's worksites and collaborators with on each others' projects. Establish a Service Learning presence at every Career/Transfer Day. Involve agencies in Career/Transfer Center
	Implement quality data collection and response	To collect data and use it to improve the experiences of all involved.

4. To foster a culture of lifelong service among participants	Give students tools for lifelong SL	Educate students and faculty about the importance of an active, engaged citizenry for voting, donation, volunteerism, and the defense of human rights and environmental sustainability. Provide students with information about continuing volunteer work after their SL class ends. Collaborate with the Career Center on creating pathways to students for jobs and careers inspired by the SL experience.
	Reward engagement	Provide students scholarships. Involve agencies and faculty in awarding scholarships. Allow local businesses opportunities to contribute to SL and to SL scholarships.
	Institutionalize the SL experience	Embed SL in at least a half dozen classes and at least two major programs. Hire permanent paid staff. Establish a SL office on campus.