Designating Courses

In May 2006, the College’s Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee approved the following criteria for all new and existing service-learning courses:

  • It is a credit-bearing undergraduate and/or graduate course.
  • The syllabus makes explicit how service and academic course content significantly inform and enhance each other.
  • There are planned benefits for the community being served and for the students learning.  The service addresses a need and follows processes that are mutually agreed upon by the community and the instructor.  This mutual agreement should be part of the course proposal.
  • The course activity guides and supports students in critical reflection regarding the integration of the service and academic course content.
  • Student course assessment and credit are based upon the demonstration of student learning, including critical reflection regarding the integration of the service and the academic course content.

Requests for approval of service-learning courses and components should be made through the Service-Learning Advisory Board, comprised of faculty members, the Vermont Campus Compact Faculty Liaison, and the Coordinator of Service-Learning.

The Board will review initial requests and offer a recommendation to the CEPC, which will then issue a final decision. Once designated, your course will be added to the list of service-learning courses, both in Program materials and the campus course catalogue.

If you would like the Service-Learning Advisory Board to review your course, or advise you in any manner, please contact the Coordinator of Service-Learning at jwagner@smcvt.edu.