Student Success Day: Strategies for a Successful Service Learning Experience

Spring 2011

#1. Boundaries - limits that allow for safe connections between individuals You are a volunteer at a shelter for homeless families. You have been volunteering once a week for two months and have begun to build relationships with many of the clients. During a routine conversation you discover that one of your favorite clients will have a birthday next week. Many of your conversations with this client center around books you’ve both enjoyed reading. The client jokingly asks if you’ll be bringing a birthday gift and casually mentions that he isn’t expecting many gifts. You decide that you’ll find or buy some books that you’ve read and bring them for him next time you volunteer. Discussion

Is sharing a birthday gift appropriate in this situation? Why? Share your ideas for a proactive solution that demonstrates professional

boundaries.

#2. Fraternization - to associate in a friendly way (cordially or intimately), socialize, mingle, text, facebook You are a female volunteer working in an adult learning center. Many of the people you assist are near your age. One of the men you’ve worked with has mentioned that he is interested in you and has repeatedly asked you to go out with him. Accepting his invitation would be inappropriate and you have told him. He continues to ask. You begin to dread working with him and even showing up at the center. Discussion

How should a volunteer handle any situation that feels awkward, unsafe or uncomfortable?

Why should a volunteer never make the mistake of thinking this situation is a personal matter and keep it to him/herself?

Share your ideas for a proactive solution that reinforces professional boundaries and emphasizes the safety of clients and service learning students.

#3. Mandated Reporting - laws requiring certain people to report concerns of abuse and neglect You work in a tutoring/mentoring program for elementary age kids. One day one of the students asks you if you can keep a secret. You assure him that you are good at keeping confidences. The child follows with: “do you promise not to tell?” Discussion

What is important to remember when working with children? What is appropriate in this situation? What should the volunteer tell the child?

Service Learning

Case Studies

Student Success Day: Strategies for a Successful Service Learning Experience

Spring 2011

#4. “Busy” Work – is the work relevant to your class? You are volunteering at a community policy organization and really enjoy working there. Your supervisor is great, your values and beliefs match the mission and goals of the organization, and you do not want to change service learning sites. However, you have been working there for over a month now and you feel your time and work is not beneficial to the organization. Mailing and stapling documents was not in your service learning description packet. Discussion

How do you approach this situation? Who might be important to contact to discuss this?

#5. Bringing Closure to your Service Learning Experience You have been working at a school as a service learning student. The class you are in ends in a few weeks, and you don’t know whether or not your supervisor knows that. You aren’t sure if you can stay on and volunteer next semester, but you’d like to come back and work at the school again sometime in the next year. Discussion

What are some options you have to bring “closure” to your service learning experience?

Student Success Day: Strategies for a Successful Service Learning Experience

Spring 2011

Talking Points to use with Case Studies

#1: Boundaries

John’s birthday/present for all?

Set up library for the entire shelter?

Monthly birthday books?

#2: Fraternization

Remember that if the client is approaching you, he or she is probably approaching other volunteers as well.

#3: Mandated Reporting

Since you are working with vulnerable individuals, pay special attention during orientation regarding agency/state rules.

Explain that because you care about her/him, you may have to tell someone.

#4: “Busy” Work

Realize that all work is valuable to the organization and remember some projects start small.

Not all work is “direct service.”

Especially in a small organization it is important to be a team player and show your willingness to help out however you are needed.

#5: Bringing Closure to your SL experience

Be sure to also let others you have worked with at the site know that you are leaving and why.

Make sure you have discussed with your supervisor when the end of the semester is and whether or not you can/want to continue volunteering.

Ask your supervisor or co-workers if they are willing to be a reference for you.

Because SL gives you such an opportunity to grown personally and professionally, you are now more marketable to employers.