Contribute to student success through effective monitoring, ongoing supervision, and recognition of student contributions.
Designate the students’ official supervisor and clarify the goals of community service work-study with them. Inform students whom to approach with questions and concerns during their experience.
Recognize students’ contributions in meaningful ways during and at the end of their experience.
Juniata College, Huntington, Pennsylvania
Juniata College works together with community partners to jointly design service programs for work-study students In this process, community organizations are able to clearly communicate their objectives and determine how they can best utilize resources provided by the college. The coordinator of the community work study program at Juniata communicates regularly with community partners to ensure that student performance is aligned with their expectations and goals. The coordinator conducts evaluations periodically to assess program effectiveness and student outcomes.
Shauna Morin
Community Service/Service Learning Coordinator
University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
The community service work-study program at the University of Denver is distinguished by the attention given to students who serve in community agencies. During the initial training for student workers, campus leaders clearly establish the students’ job duties and clarify their responsibilities in representing the university and the partner organization. In addition, each partner organization is responsible for on site training as it relates to their placement. Throughout the year, the staff from the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning works closely with the supervisors from each site to ensure a meaningful experience for the students and the community partner. Then a year-end celebration is held in a local neighborhood center, where students and community partnerscome together to reflect and receive recognition for their job well done.
Frank Coyne
Associate Director
Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana
Xavier University’ s Volunteer Service Office carefully developed a program to support student workers engaged in community service work-study. The office chose to work with ten schools and ten nonprofit agencies charged with providing students meaningful service positions outlined in a memorandum of agreement. The university provides students with an orientation and specific training in literacy and education, mentoring, and working with special populations. Students attend regular meetings that include speakers from nonprofit organizations, AmeriCorps, and other service organizations, as well as job training and reflection. Throughout the year, students are recognized for their work during dinners and other gatherings and receive greeting cards and other small tokens on birthdays and holidays. A university van also is available to take them to and from their placements.
Donielle Smith Flynn
Assistant Director for Service-Learning/American Humanics
