Guidelines for Service

Please keep in mind that you will be representing Oakton Community College while performing you service at your chosen site.  Your dependability, conscientiousness and cooperative attitude can make you a very positive ambassador for promoting good relations between the college and the community!  At the same time, try to have some fun and get the most out of your experience. Here are some specifics for arranging a placement and completing your assignment. Before you begin, make sure you understand what your professor's expectations are:  Are there deadlines for completing the assignment?  How many hours are required in order to receive credit?  Will you be expected to keep a journal?  make a class presentation?  write a paper?  Are there any limitations on where the service can be performed?  Once you have identified a possible service site, call the contact person and arrange for an interview.  What will your exact tasks be?  Are there any specific agency rules or regulations regarding volunteers?  Do the hours you are available to do the service correspond to the hours in which the agency needs help?  Treat this assignment just as you would a regular job.  Be sure to arrive on time and be prepared to work  Once you have worked out a schedule, stick to it.  If you have agreed with the agency to work for more hours than is required by the professor, it is your responsibility to complete those hours even after you have met the requirements of the assignment.  If for any reason you are unable to go on the assigned day, or you will be late arriving, notify the person supervising you as soon as possible.  The agency is counting on you to be there, so don't let them down, unless an unavoidable conflict arise.  If you are unclear about what you are expected to do, ask the supervisor for clarification.  Keep a log of your hours and ask the supervisor to initial you log after each site visit.  If any problems arise as you perform your service duties, be sure to discuss them with your site supervisor and/or your course professor immediately.  If you have to drop the class or stop doing the service for any reason, please inform the agency immediately.

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For any further information about Service Learning, please contact
Gwen Nyden - gnyden@oakton.edu
Alan Rubin - rubin@oakton.edu
Please direct questions or comments about these pages to the
webmaster@oakton.edu
Copyright & copy; 2000 Oakton Community College. Last update Summer 2000