What is Service Learning?

• Service Learning is a program component within Volunteer UWF!. Through Service Learning, students develop skills learned in the classroom by applying them to the "real world."

• Service Learning is an academic-based service experience for an individual or group that is tied directly to an academic course that includes other course content. The project should accomplish course objectives and include a reflection about the experience.

• A component of many classes offered at UWF, Service-Learning is a valuable tool for students, educators, and the community alike. By helping the community you also help yourself gain experience in a work-related atmosphere. Volunteer UWF! helps connect UWF faculty and their course learning objectives with specific identified community needs.

• Volunteer UWF! also offers Service Learning Orientation & Reflection Sessions each semester to assist students with their projects. The Service Learning Orientation Sessions are offered at the beginning of each semester to assist students with choosing their service learning project and/or community agency to complete their service. The Service Learning Reflection sessions are offered at the end of each semester to assist students with reflecting on their experience and making the connection between the academic side and hands on, work-related side of their service.

• For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the friendly Volunteer UWF! staff who are eager to assist you in finding a match for your interests, by visiting us in Building 19, calling 474-2254 or visit us on the web at http://uwf.edu/volunteer

How do I find a place to complete my service learning requirements?

• Schedule a meeting with a Volunteer UWF! team member.
• Think about what interests you (Major, interest areas, social issues, nonprofit organizations, etc.)
• In the meeting, a member of the Volunteer UWF! team can help you identify local non-profit agencies and Community Partners that match your interests.
• Check out JasonQuest. JasonQuest is a great resource for students to utilize to explore possible service sites, agencies, and social issues.
• All students who are interested in participating in service are required to have a JasonQuest account.
• Although Volunteer UWF! does not “place” or “assign” students to a specific non-profit agency or Community Partner, we do assist students with determining interest areas, making academic and major connections, exploring social issues and community needs, as well as locating contact information and information regarding appropriate non-profit agencies.
• Also, students are not limited to volunteering with an agency currently listed in JasonQuest.

How do I get a Volunteer UWF! Timesheet and other Volunteer UWF! Forms?
• If you have not attended a Volunteer UWF! Service Learning or Field Study Orientation Session, you should schedule a meeting with a Volunteer UWF! team member.
• Everyone can access Volunteer UWF’s! website at http://uwf.edu/volunteer or the Career Services’ website at http://uwf.edu/career . Timesheets and other forms will be available on the website for you to download and print out. Hard copies of the timesheets and forms are always available to pick-up in the Volunteer UWF!/Career Services office in Building 19 on campus. You can also email volunteer@uwf.edu or career@uwf.edu to request a copy of the Volunteer UWF! Timesheets or other forms to be emailed directly to you.
• There are various timesheets and other forms available, depending on what type of service you are completing—individual, student organization, service learning, field study, etc. Please look for the appropriate timesheet or other forms on the website, or specify what type of service you are completing when requesting a copy of the timesheet or other forms.
• Don’t forget, though, that timesheets are always due the Monday Prior to Final Exam Week each semester, no later than 5:00 pm. **Each semester’s deadline is posted on the Volunteer UWF! website and around campus.

How do I know when my Service Learning Paperwork is due?

• First and foremost, all Volunteer UWF! Timesheets are due not later than 5PM the Monday Prior to Final Exam Week in each semester. This date will be posted on the Volunteer UWF! website, announced in your classes, and posted around campus. Your Timesheet is always due on or before this date.
• The other supplemental paperwork (Learning Objectives/Action Plan; Agency Agreement Forms, etc.) typically are due back in to Volunteer UWF! no later than the end of the 5th week of the semester. This date is also posted on our website, announced in your class, and can be found by contacting Volunteer UWF!.
• Sometimes, the other supplemental paperwork deadlines depend a lot on the professor that is hosting the Service Learning Class or the professor that is sponsoring your Field Study class. However, the Volunteer UWF! team also has a firm deadline for paperwork. We will tell you of the deadlines when you attend an orientation session! There are also informational emails that are sent out to keep you up to date on what you need to do and when your paperwork is required. Last but not least, if you ever have any confusion, you can contact a member of the Volunteer UWF! team at 474-2254 to ask one of them when the paperwork is due!

Is my Service Learning Paperwork due the same day as the other volunteer time sheets?
All Volunteer UWF! Timesheets are always due the Monday Prior to Final Exam Week, but the Learning Objectives/Action Plan; Agency Agreement Forms, etc. are due at a different time—typically determined by your professor and a Volunteer UWF! representative. The deadlines will be posted on the Volunteer UWF! website, announced in your classes, and/or posted around campus. The other supplemental paperwork (Learning Objectives/Action Plan; Agency Agreement Forms, etc.) typically are due back in to Volunteer UWF! no later than the end of the 5th week of the semester.

All Volunteer UWF! Timesheets are always due the Monday Prior to Final Exam Week, but the Learning Objectives/Action Plan; Agency Agreement Forms, etc. are due at a different time—typically determined by your professor and a Volunteer UWF! representative. The deadlines will be posted on the Volunteer UWF! website, announced in your classes, and/or posted around campus. The other supplemental paperwork (Learning Objectives/Action Plan; Agency Agreement Forms, etc.) typically are due back in to Volunteer UWF! no later than the end of the 5th week of the semester.

How can I obtain the necessary Service Learning Paperwork & Forms?
When you come into the Volunteer UWF! office for your Service Learning and/or Field Study Orientation Session, a Volunteer UWF! representative will go through each page of the paperwork and explain everything. Copies will be given out at that time as well as via email before/after your orientation session takes place.
If you are enrolled in a Service Learning or Field Study course, a Volunteer UWF! representative typically will also hand out the Service Learning or Field Study paperwork in one of your classes or at an individual appointment, too—as you can see, there are many ways to receive the information! When all else fails, please contact Volunteer UWF!, and we can email a copy of the paperwork to you.

Are there places to volunteer on campus?
Most definitely! Once again, this is where JasonQuest really comes in handy to find out what events and places within the University are in need of volunteers. Schedule a meeting with a Volunteer UWF! team member and depending on your interests, a member of the Volunteer UWF! team can help you identify on campus departments, programs, and organizations that match your interests.

Service Learning Forms: