Community Based Learning Placements to Partnerships: Navigating the Paperwork
Campus Compact Study (2011)
“ I have to say I was in the same situation where I felt like, ‘ well what is really required of them? ’ I wish I would have a syllabus to go by to know what they are doing. ” “ And you ask the students, “ What is the intention of your being here ” ? “ I don ’ t know. I ’ m just here to do hours. ”
“ I think a great partnership is when you stop saying MY students. They ’ re OUR students. What are OUR needs? We share these things in common, so let ’ s go for it. ”
From Placements to Partnerships
Impact on Processes Student Instructor Community Partner Sustained reciprocal relationships with community partners create opportunities to simplify the paperwork/process. Clear understanding of project goals and tasks
When is paperwork needed? When students will be working on-site with a community partner. IF a description appears on the syllabus the first day of classes, paperwork is NOT necessary when: Student projects are completed off-site as a deliverable The site is a Mason entity (e.g. Sustainability Office, WAVES, etc.)
Standard Agreement Consent & Release Form CLCE Info Form (Online) End of Semester Eval (Online) Project Description Standard Process Completed by student or student group and Community Partner Completed by student } }
Standard Agreement Consent & Release Form CLCE Info Form (Online) End of Semester Eval (Online) Project Description Mason Entity Process Completed by student or student group and Community Partner OR by the instructor (must appear on syllabus) Completed by student } } X X
Long Term Agreement Consent & Release Form CLCE Info Form (Online) End of Semester Eval (Online) Project Description Long Term Process Completed by CLCE and Community Partner Completed by student Completed by instructor and Community Partner Appears on course syllabus } } }
Long Term Partnership Agreements Carpenters Shelter Keep Prince William Beautiful Birmingham Green Main Street Child Development Center Fairfax Symphony Bethany House of Northern Virginia, Inc. FACETS Pending: Volunteer Fairfax Volunteer Solutions- Partnership with Fairfax County Family Services Northern Virginia Family Services PRS, Inc. Wright to Read Alzheimer ’ s Family Day Center Daniels Run Elementary Fairfax County Government Programs The ARC of Northern Virginiag
Paperwork Packets: Please use most current version Faculty packet has ALL forms Student packet has the forms students need and step-by-step instructions All forms are available: From me in print or via From CLCE website
Other Bits Field trips: You don't need consent and release forms IF you describe the activities on the syllabus first day of class. Transportation to sites Syllabus language if you aren’t providing transportation: “transportation is the responsibility of the student. Directions are…” Drivers of car pools need to understand the liability is on them, not Mason. Students can drive clients in the Community Partner’s vehicles, but not in their own cars.
Resources Volunteer Fairfax Searchable database of current volunteer opportunities all over the region Connect Northern Virginia Searchable database (by location and social issue) of ALL nonprofit organizations in the region. Growing information hub about how a variety of social issues affect the region.