Community Engagement Amidst COVID-19: Updates + Resources

The Center for Service Learning is here to support you in navigating the continuation of community engaged work amidst COVID-19.

This webpage will serve as a living resource-- we will continually add FAQs as well as relevant resources that might assist you in the transition to virtual teaching, learning, and serving.

Have a question or resource you'd like us to answer and add to this page? Click here to ask it! 

CSL Program Updates

The Center for Service Learning will be operating on a hybrid basis for the fall semester. Appointments and meetings can be conducted via telephone/Skype for Business, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. Please email csl@ku.edu or call 785-864-0960 to schedule an appointment. The CSL will retain its normal "office hours" of 9am-4pm, with extended hours to 6pm on Tuesdays. You are also welcome to submit needs to our Help form here.

KU-Specific Updates

The most up-to-date information regarding university-wide guidance and instructions will be found at coronavirus.ku.edu.

Course Instruction

The KU Center for Teaching Excellence, KU Information Technology, and the KU Center for Online and Distance Learning have collaborated on remote.ku.edu, a site with resources, tools, and information about KU-hosted webinars regarding online instruction. CTE has also published this blog post which may be helpful: Creating Community in an Online Course.

Additional Resources:

Mapping Access- Accessible Teaching in the Time of COVID-19

Washington University in St. Louis- Teaching and Learning for Social Impact: Resources for (Re)Designing Courses

Volunteering

There are a variety of pathways to service that can be supported virtually in ways that continue to support community needs and learning outcomes. A few ideas based on the pathways to service are:

Volunteer

  • Tape, record, or stream performances or workshops to benefit community partner(s)
  • Create digital and other social media content, print program materials, or other methods for information-sharing
  • Offer (or compile, research, or brainstorm) strategies that provide indirect support from volunteers as a result of coronavirus
  • Work with staff to share videos or use technology to continue visits with residents or patients of retirement home facilities
  • Develop a social media calendar of posts for an organization

Mentor/Educator

  • Conduct virtual or phone-based educational supports for youth and adults
  • Provide web-based music/dance/art lessons
  • Tutor, mentor, or coach youth online

Advocate

  • Write a positive review for the organization to help with their marketing efforts
  • Develop a social marketing and/or media campaign
  • Gather and summarize testimonials related to an issue

Policy Shaper

  • Draft legislation to help protect the community
  • Lobby on behalf of a community issue
  • Develop policy briefs related to an issue

Researcher

  • Conduct background research or gather best practices or other information
  • Facilitate an assessment, evaluation, or gather feedback via phone or web-based services
  • Conduct a literature review or online research on best practices
  • Develop tools for program assessment or analyze data
  • Conduct remote interviewing of current/past clients about their experiences, impact of the organization on where they are today
  • Create a listing of grant opportunities that may be applicable for the organization

 Social Innovator

  • Create online tools to help citizens report or discuss challenges
  • Develop online maps and tools (e.g., create an asset map related to an issue or resource)
  • Support an online campaign related to an issue

References:

You should contact local organizations to identify volunteer activities that can be supported virtually.

NOTE: If you need documented service hours for something specific, such as the Certificate in Service Learning, make sure to keep track of your hours if the virtual service opportunity does not do that for you. Feel free to use our Service Hour Timesheet as a template. 

Generally, community organizations have a range of needs that can be supported through indirect service. Some local volunteer opportunities that you can review to identify indirect service activities that can be done remotely are accessible from the following:

Additionally, some opportunities to volunteer virtually are supported through these channels:

NOTE: If you need documented service hours for something specific, such as the Certificate in Service Learning, make sure to keep track of your hours if the virtual service opportunity does not do that for you. Feel free to use our Service Hour Timesheet as a template. 

The United Way of Douglas County has put together a general guide for volunteers during this time- before you sign up to volunteer, check that out here!

The Protect KU Plan regulations should be followed both on and off-campus for the safety of our community partners. This involves wearing a mask at all times (except to eat/drink or if medically necessary), washing hand and sanitizing items and surfaces often, practicing and abiding by social distancing guidance, and conducting daily personal health screenings. 

Student Organizations + Leadership

The KU Student Involvement and Leadership Center put together this helpful webpage that can help guide your organization's direction for the rest of the semester. In addition to communicating with your organization members to share KU's message and any relevant updates about events, elections, transitions, etc., consider how you might communicate with your community partners during this time. 

Civic Engagement

The Campus Election Engagement Project (CEEP) has put together this living document that links to lesson plans, games and quizzes, videos, and news reports surrounding civic engagement in higher education. This is a great place from which to start gathering resources! The Campus Election Engagement Project also has a guide called "Coronavirus as a Teachable Classroom Moment: Engaging Students Across the Curriculum," which discusses how to integrate civic engagement into the conversation for any area of study. 

We would highly recommend promoting rockthevote.org to your students, as they have voting information by state and are updating consistently when changes arise due to COVID-19 or state policy. Columbia College Chicago has also created 51 state-by-state voting guides, which you can find here.

Ethical Service

This really depends on the type of service you’re doing, but it is important to consider how we are protecting the most vulnerable populations during this time. Talk to your community partner about the types of service work that can be done remotely through phone, email, or other virtual mediums. For more information on ethical service, click here.

Additional Resources + Links

Sign Up for a CSL Newsletter

Keep up to date with events, funding opportunities, and more! Each newsletter type is sent at a varying degree of frequency. Unsubscribe at any time!
Sign Up Today

Follow us on Social Media!

FacebookInstagramX, formerly known as TwitterYouTubeLinkedIn