Service 101: Pre-Service Orientation and Reflection

As you begin your service learning partnership with a community organization, you will be entering your work in the community as a representative of the University of Kansas and, as such, we ask that you carefully read through and abide by the following guidelines to assist you in having the most meaningful and worthwhile experience possible.

Go over these guidelines with your service supervisor, noting in the margins any changes that need to be made such that the guidelines better fit your service site.

Ask for help when in doubt: Your site supervisor understands the issues at your site best and can assist you in determining the best way to respond to difficult or uncomfortable situations.

Be punctual and responsible: Although you are volunteering your time, you are participating in the organization as a reliable, trustworthy and contributing member of the team. Those with whom you work will depend on your punctuality and commitment to completing your service hours throughout your partnership.

Call if you anticipate lateness or absence: Call the site supervisor with as much notice as possible if you are unable to come in or if you anticipate being late. Be mindful of your commitment to serving with your community.

Respect the privacy of all clients: If you are privy to confidential information with regard to the persons with whom you are working (i.e., organizational files, diagnostics, personal stories, etc.) it is vital that you treat it as privileged information. You should use pseudonyms in your course assignments if you are referring to clients or the people with whom you work with at the organization.

Show respect for the community organization you work for: Placement within community programs is an educational opportunity and an honor. Keep in mind, not only are you serving the community, but the community is serving you by investing valuable resources in your learning.

Act appropriately: Treat your supervisor and others with courtesy and kindness. Dress comfortably, neatly and appropriately. Use formal names unless instructed otherwise.

Be flexible: The level or intensity of activity at a community site is not always predictable. Your flexibility to changing situations can assist the partnership in working smoothly and producing positive outcomes for everyone involved.

DON’T report to your community organization under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

DON’T give or loan a client money or other personal belongings.

DON’T make promises or commitments to a client you cannot keep.

DON’T give a client or community organization representative a ride in a personal vehicle.

DON’T tolerate verbal exchange of a sexual nature or engage in behavior that might be perceived as sexual with a client or community organization representative.

DON’T tolerate verbal exchange or engage in behavior that might be perceived as discriminating against an individual on the basis of their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or ethnicity.

DON’T engage in any type of business with clients during the term of your community work.

DON’T enter into personal relationships with a client or community organization representative during the term of your community work. Conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. Every site has its own rules, policies, procedures, protocols and expectations, for which you are responsible. Familiarizing yourself with the workings of the organization will contribute to the success of your experience.

Adapted from Georgetown University’s Center for Social Justice, Research, and Learning

Disclaimer: this is how we are defining these words in this context

First, let's define SERVICE
We use the term service as a way to encompass all ways that students engage in unpaid contributions to their communities. This term service is sometimes used interchangeable with volunteering, but can also include a variety of other community engagement efforts, such as advocacy, mentoring, policy, social innovation, research, etc. See Pathways to Service.

Ethical Service
We define ethical service as respectful service experiences that prioritize the dignity of the people in a community. Understanding ethical service helps us avoid perpetuating stereotypes, misconceptions, and behaviors that cause unintended harm in communities. 

Social Responsibility
Social responsibility is an ethical framework and suggests that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large (Wikipedia: Social Responsibility).

Voluntourism
A form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for a charity.

The Pathways to Service describe the variety of ways people can use their knowledge, skills, and talents to improve their communities. Many of these pathways overlap, allowing you a personalized approach to help you determine which pathways are the best fit for you.

Explore the Pathways to Service. 

Instructions: Review the resources on the Service 101 webpage and answer the following questions. Each response should be at least 100 words, but no more than 200 words.  

1. The Pathways to Public Service and Social Change model can be applied to any community problem, and uses the 6 Paths as different yet overlapping methods to pursue social change. On the CSL’s webpage describing the Pathways, 1) watch the “Pathways to Public Service and Social Change” video, 2) complete the Pathways survey, and 3) review all 6 Pathways descriptions. 

Reflect on the pathway you are 1) most comfortable/experienced with, 2) most interested in exploring and learning more about, and 3) least confident/comfortable in your ability to execute (and why, for each of these three).  

Select a community challenge/social issue you are passionate about and create a personal “roadmap to social change,” by identifying one way you can support change using each of the three pathways you identified (most comfortable, more interested in exploring, least confident).  

2. Review “Identifying Targets and Agents of Change: Who Can Benefit and Who Can Help.”  

Think about the social issue you identified in question 1. Who are two targets of change and two agents of change in that social issue? Why are those voices important in community changemaking? 

3. Review the Service Learning Code of Ethics for Students,   7 Questions to Consider for Ethical Service, and Ethical Issues in Community Interventions. 

Identify one community-based nonprofit organization located in Lawrence, Topeka, or the Kansas City metro area that focuses on the social issue you identified in question 1. What is the organization’s mission statement (you can copy & paste), and how does their work with the community align with their mission? Include an example of how their work demonstrates ethical service. If you were to volunteer with that organization, how would you ensure you're ethically serving the communities they partner with?