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The safety of our students and community remain a top priority. We recommend searching for a virtual (remote) service learning. Use the database to search for the key word: “remote” service learning. In addition, we recommend speaking with your course faculty for recommendations on service learning sites appropriate for your course.
Faculty determine the number of hours, alternate assignments, etc. Please speak to your course faculty for course specifics in regard to hours, assignments, learning outcomes, etc.
Please see the following COVID-19 Guidelines for Students. If you have any questions regarding the new guidelines please email our offfice: servicelearning@csusm.edu.
For additional information about COVID-19 and our CSUSM campus please see CSUSM Incident Response Status.
While volunteerism is geared toward the advantage of the community, Service Learning also requires that the student reflect on and learn from the service being performed. The student, as well as the community, will receive the "benefits" from the activity. While internships or field placements tend to focus solely on student learning. Service Learning focuses on both the service the community needs and the instructor's learning objectives. Both the communities needs and the student's learning needs will be met.
The safety or our students and community remain a top priority. We strongly recommend that students search for and chose virtual service learning when at all possible. If an in-person internship is necessary to complete required hours, CSUSM students may participate in on-site internships activities in the State of California provided the student and the organization follow current Federal, State, and County public health guidelines effective May 19, 2020.
We are working with partners to inform them all in person opportunities must abide by local, county, and federal COVID-19 public health guidelines. As always, continue practicing guidelines that include social distancing measures, wearing masks, washing your hands frequently, and contacting your site supervisor if you feel sick.
You can view a complete list of approved sites on the Internship and Service Learning Database.
Service Learning can only be performed at sites which have an active agreement and are in our database. All approved sites are reflected on the Internship and Service Learning Database. Therefore, students must select a Service Learning site from the database. Only instructors are allowed to submit a Request for a New Community Partner.
Review your course syllabus. Most course instructors will review detailed information about a service learning or community service project with in the few weeks of the course.
For more information, please consult with your course instructor.
Once you have found your service learning site and have received approval by your course instructor, please follow these steps to make a Service Learning Placement.
Approximately 8-25 hours will be completed.
However this may vary between courses and course instructors. For more information please review your course syllabus.
Service Learning is a tool that will help you learn course material. You may not use previous community hours to fulfill your current semesters hours. It is typically required that the service occurs during the duration of the course while you are studying the course content.
If you would like to begin your hours prior to the start of the course please contact your course instructor.
Your instructor may require that you log your hours on a timesheet. If you do keep a timesheet you will submit it to your instructor upon completion of the course.
The Department of Service Learning does not collect completed timesheets.
Your course instructor is responsible for all course grades and assignments related to your service learning course.
The Department of Service Learning is not responsible for course grades, adding or dropping a course, and/or course assignments.
For questions related to your course grades and assignments please consult your course instructor.
No. Your interview is like a job interview! Several factors play a role in a good match: course goals and objectives, schedules, position availability, the agency's needs, the skills and learning interests you bring, etc.
If you need assistance with a resume, cover letter, or other essentials to landing your Service Learning opportunity please contact the Career Center.
If you have not heard back from the sites that you have reached out to please consult with your instructor for a list of additional recommended sites.
Speak with your site supervisor immediately. If there is a problem please discuss the matter with the organizations volunteer coordinator to see if you can explore other available opportunities at that organization.
If the problem persists, first talk with your instructor and then with the Office of Service Learning for help with a change of settings.
Service Learning needs to address an important community need and contribute to achieving your course objectives. Job assignments may not be compatible with course learning needs.
Performing service at another agency offers the opportunity to expose you to new situations and experiences.
Overall, we strongly encourage you to serve at another agency.
If you have limited transportation, there are several on campus sites that may fit your course.
Use the keyword: "CSUSM" when searching the database.
If you do not live in San Marcos use the search bar in our database to search by the city you are located in.
If you find a site in your city that you wish to complete your hours at but it is not in our database please contact your instructor.