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What are the logistics?

Residency Program:  Through the Residency Program, service learning is integrated into a partner school's curriculum. Working in collaboration with classroom teachers, Service Learning Project (SLP) faculty guide students as they work together to choose a social issue, become experts through intensive research, develop an alternative solution, and then create and implement a strategy to persuade the adults "in charge" to change their approach. Every step of the process is student-driven.  Every project helps build academic, social, and personal skills. Every solution has a real and meaningful impact. 

The Residency Program consists of two 12-week sessions during each school year, one in the fall term and one in the spring.  Each participating class meets weekly with SLP faculty, who co-teach in-class meetings with classroom teachers. SLP faculty also prepare weekly lessons and activities, arrange guest speakers, connect with advocacy and other outside organizations, collect research materials, and provide general trouble-shooting. 

SLP Club: Using the same student-driven model as the Residency Program, SLP faculty lead service clubs offered through electives, advisories, and school or community-based after-school programs.  

Professional Development: For partner schools and community organizations that prefer a customized, school or agency--wide approach, SLP can provide staff training and ongoing technical assistance.  We design on-site workshops to help answer planning and execution questions such as: 

• How does service learning differ from community service? 
• What are the phases of an effective service learning project? 
• How can projects be as student-driven as possible, given the age and experience of the students? What are effective strategies for helping students make collective decisions? 
• What are the goals of the Research Phase? What fundamental questions are students trying to answer? 
• How can students persuade those responsible for solving their social issue to change their approach? How can they build supportive partnerships in their school and local community? 
• How can teachers and group leaders ensure students have a real impact on their selected issue? 
• After the project is executed, how can students reflect on their experience and share what they have learned with their community? 

Once student meetings are in progress, SLP staff can provide ongoing technical assistance ranging from e-mail inquiries to on-site trouble shooting to small group brainstorming sessions.  Partner schools and agencies can also obtain a standard copy of the SLP Teaching Manual, or work with SLP staff to create a customized version.

Fees are determined by the level of support requested, the duration of the partnership, and the number of staff participating.