Faculty Resources

Before The Start of the Semester 

1. Faculty Checklist- Getting Started

Thinking of teaching a service-learning class? Look no further! We've created a checklist for you to help you navigate your service-learning semester.

Download Checklist

2. Complete the Service-Learning Enrollment Form

Our team is here to help! Fill out our Service-Learning Enrollment form to get access to our Get Connected User Groups, S-L Resources, help with MOU's and Course Agreements, and More!

S-L Enrollment Form 

3. "S" Designation in Classfinder- Make it Official!

Requirements for a "S" (or Service-Learning) designation for your course on Classfinder can be found here.

During the Semester

1. Schedule a Visit from CELS to Your Class!

Optional but highly encouraged: Schedule a time for a representative from the Office of Community-Engaged Learning and Service to come speak to your class. 

Email sydnee.floyd@belmont.edu to schedule!

2. Describe Your Service-Learning Course to Your Students

• Announce the service-learning component to your class and list the details in your syllabus.  

• Explain the goal of service-learning and define how it is different from volunteerism or community service; discuss the benefits of service-learning for the students, agency, and local community.  

• Highlight or propose some sample service-learning opportunities for students.  

• Describe the steps for students to locate, secure, and track service-learning placements, including using the User Group feature of the Get Connected platform or student selected M.O.U.s, as applicable. 

• Discuss the evaluation and reflection methods tied to the service-learning component, including an alternative assignment if relevant.  

3. Monitor Progress

The End of the Semester

• Approve (or deny) all submitted student service hours in your Class User Group on Get Connected. 

• Invite community partners to complete Community Partner Survey 

• Remind students to complete the Student Service-Learning Survey sent to them by the Office of Community-Engaged Learning and Service. 

• Complete the Faculty S-L Survey sent to you by the Office of Community-Engaged Learning and Service 

MOU's and Course Agreements

Belmont already has M.O.U.s on file with a number of agencies. Please consult the Get Connected Partner Agency List. 

• If the agency you are working with is already a Partner Agency, please contact the Office of Community-Engaged Learning and Service for a copy of the M.O.U. You only need to complete a Course Agreement Form with the agency. 

Download Course Agreement Form

• If you are working with an agency without an M.O.U. on file, you will need to use one of the following M.O.U.s depending on how your service sites are selected.

Faculty Selected Site M.O.U.

Student Selected Site M.O.U.

Release Forms and Codes of Conduct

• Photo Release Form
• Sample Service-Learning Release Form 

  • Contact Tim Stewart for information on customizing this form for your class

• Service-Learning Code of Conduct
• Volunteer Code of Conduct - for those working with children

SOUL Focused Activities + Resources

• The SOUL of Our Community Vision Board Activity- Beginning of the Semester 

• English and Education majors tutoring students at local schools where they gain valuable teaching experience.
• First Year Seminar students focusing on food insecurity through partnerships with The Nashville Food Project, Second Harvest Food Bank, and other local agencies
• Financial Literacy Math students working with low-income families to create budgets and make financial plans.
• Nursing students putting on a health fair for immigrants and refugees in partnership with Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement
• Environmental Science students working with Cumberland River Compact and TN Watershed Association on stream clean-ups and canoe/kayak access.
• Community Nutrition students producing virtual cooking demonstrations during COVID-19 for clients of The Store (Belmont’s collaboration with alumnus Brad Paisley to provide groceries to those in need)

Sample Syllabi

American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) has a toolkit to strengthen Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning, Engaging Community: A Toolkit for Reciprocal Teaching and Learning Beyond the Campus.

Campus Compact provides a comprehensive list of service-leaning syllabi sorted by discipline

Portland Community College has a pretty good list of syllabi, sorted by course number

Skidmore College has a great list of service learning by discipline

Other Syllabi Resources:

Designing Service-Learning Course Syllabus from The Center for Service-Learning & Civic Engagement at Tennessee State University

Place Based Service-Learning as a Teaching Strategy from Community Works Institute

Creighton University provides a series on curriculum development for service-learning courses.

Reflection Activities 

Campus Compact: Critical Service-Learning Reflection Tool

A Practitioner's Guide to Reflection in Service-Learning by Janet Eyler, Dwight Giles and Angela Schmiede (requires creation of a free account on Internet Archive to access)

Surveys and Evaluations

• Community Partner Survey (coming soon)
• Example Student Survey

Other Institutions

Below is a list of some other institutions and their service-learning and/or community engagement initiatives:

• Appalachian State University
• Arizona State University
• Elon University
• Gonzaga University
• Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis
• James Madison University
• Lipscomb University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Mercer University
• Middle Tennessee State University
• Purdue Fort Wayne
• Rockhurst University
• Roger Williams University
• Rollins College
• Samford University
• Stetson University
• Tennessee State University
• UC Berkley
• University of Kansas
• The University of Vermont
• University of Whitworth
• Vanderbilt University
  • Resources
  • National and International Organizations for Service-Learning
  • College Programs
  • Journals, Books, and Other Resources
• Washington University in St. Louis