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Community Service-Learning
Fuse Classroom Learning with Hands-On Experience
Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses at Laurier integrate service in the community with academic content through placements or projects. You are guided through critical reflection activities that will connect the experience outside the classroom with course material.
We offer CSL courses in psychology, human rights and human diversity, youth and children’s studies, global studies, health studies, and French, with new courses in development. We partner with non-profit or social profit organizations, schools, community centres and social agencies.
If you have additional questions about courses with a CSL opportunity, contact Lisa Jarvis, Manager of Community and Workplace Partnerships.
“I would highly recommend any student who has the chance to take this course, you will walk away with not only an entirely new perspective on allyship and volunteering, but also with a set of skills you may not have had before.”– Student, SOJE204, Winter 2021, CSL projects
TYPES OF EXPERIENCES
CSL Placements
Placements are approximately 10 weeks in duration. Your placement takes place on a weekly basis from the second week of classes to the final week (unless specified otherwise), typically for two hours per week.
In most cases, the CSL component is a pass/fail requirement and requires extra time from you outside of scheduled class time and weekly throughout the entire term.
CSL Projects
Projects allow you to work on a project that is developed with a community partner organization, either individually or in a group. Sometimes projects will involve contact or meetings with the community partner and other off-campus activities.
You will work in partnership with a community-based organization to apply your knowledge to an identified challenge or issue. Your time commitment will vary based on your project.
Placement Process During the Pandemic
CSL placements have been modified due to COVID-19. Look to your course outlines and CSL-related info in MyLS.
For frequently asked questions, see our Community & Workplace Partnerships COVID-19 FAQs.
Getting Started
CSL Placement
If you are in a placement course, you will have a designated sign-up day where all postings for your course are available on a first come, first served basis.
CSL staff will post instructions on MyLearningSpace before sign-up day, and will be visiting classes during the first week to explain the sign-up process.
Check out our instruction video about how you can sign up for a CSL placement.
CSL Project
The process for matching you with opportunities vary by course. You will receive more information about this process from your professor and CWP staff during the first two weeks of your course.
All students in a course with a CSL component must review and accept conditions for participation in Navigator before starting the opportunity.
The community partner may also have paperwork or training that is required of you as a volunteer in their organization.
If you are completing a placement with a Waterloo Region public school, you must complete a Waterloo Region District School Board form.
If you are in two CSL courses, you may do one placement for approximately three hours a week.
If you are in three CSL courses, you may do one placement for approximately four hours a week.
If you would like to do one placement for multiple courses, you must inform your CSL Coordinator during the signup process. This process is subject to approval — the placement must be appropriate for all of the courses and be able to accommodate you for the extra time.
Students with documented disabilities are required to register with Accessible Learning per policy 2.3 Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.
You are encouraged to register in advance of the start of term by submitting your documentation and application via the registration link. You will meet with an accommodation consultant to formulate an accommodation plan that considers your practicum/placement requirements.
If you are doing an in-person placement, the partner organization must provide you with health and safety training specific to their workplace.
You may be required to complete Unpaid Work Placement Health & Safety Orientation online training.
You have the right to refuse work if you believe that the workplace is unsafe.
Review safety information for off-campus activities and student placements.
During Your Course
- Actively reflect on course content while at your placement.
- Research the organization before you meet with them. Most organizations, even schools, have websites. Your community partner will be impressed if you know about them and their work, their history, the people they serve, etc. It will make the work you do with them and the associated coursework more meaningful.
- Treat your placement as if it were a job. Be punctual, reliable, polite, and professional at all times.
- Dress appropriately for the work environment. If you haven’t been told or are unsure, then ask!
- Do all of the associated coursework and reflections. Be willing and able to share information on your course and learning with your community partner if they are interested.
- Reach out for assistance if you need it. Talk to your placement supervisor, your CSL coordinator, or your professor if things aren’t going well.
- Remember that the experience and skills you gain and the connections you make with people can be used on your resume or on applications (job, volunteer, or educational) in the future.
- Give your all to the organization. Leave a positive and lasting legacy for them!
Placement Courses
Only your coordinator can change your placement after you sign up. If you have been in contact with a placement supervisor, you must let them know that you have dropped the course or that you have changed your placement. Make sure you thank them for the opportunity.
Project Courses
You can discuss a change request with your professor or CWP staff if you feel the opportunity you are matched with is not a good fit. This change may not be possible in all project courses depending on the number of partner organizations involved in the type of project.
Placement Courses
For all courses with a placement component, you must enter attendance weekly.
- Log in to Navigator every week and create an attendance report, whether you attended your placement or not.
- Email your attendance report to your supervisor using the email feature. See How to Enter Attendance Records for a Community Service-Learning (CSL) Placement for step-by-step instructions.
CWP staff will monitor your attendance throughout the term. Your professor will review your attendance at the end of the semester to determine if you have met the expectations for your CSL placement. All of your attendance records must be approved by your supervisor.
Project Courses
The process for tracking hours and activities in courses with a CSL project component will be laid out in your course outline and/or be provided to you by CWP staff at the beginning of your course.
"Pending" Attendance
It means that your placement supervisor or coordinator hasn’t approved the attendance record. You can try re-sending it and reminding your supervisor that they need to use the link in the emails to approve your reports. If your attendance is “declined,” speak with your supervisor or coordinator. You may have made a mistake and need to re-submit it for approval.
Placement Courses
Your weekly commitment should be locked into your calendar/schedule, just like a class or a work shift. You should only miss your placement for a valid reason such as illness/injury, and you must call in sick before your placement is set to begin, if possible.
Studying for an exam, having class/work at the same time, or social events are not valid reasons for an absence. If you repeatedly miss your placement for invalid reasons or you do not call ahead to inform of illness, you risk not meeting CSL and course expectations.
Next Steps
If you are unable to meet your scheduled commitments for your placement and have notified the appropriate people, the next step is to offer to make up time missed:
- As your supervisor if it is possible to attend an extra week at the end of the placement period, or for an extra session during a particular week or for a few more hours on a particular visit.
- If the partner does not need or can't accommodate you for an extra session or hours, you do not need to make up the hours.
- Record all information regarding missed sessions, efforts to make up the time and the plan/response you received from your supervisor in attendance records on Navigator.
Project Courses
If there are scheduled commitments either with your group or the community partner you are working with, the same expectations are in place as outlined above regarding placements.
Next Steps
If you are unable to meet your scheduled commitments for your project and have notified the appropriate people, the next step is to offer to make up time missed or reschedule project commitments.
Missed Several Sessions of Your Placement?
If you miss two or more sessions of your placement for whatever reason, you must contact your coordinator. We will work with you, your community partner and your professor to help you complete your placement or, if it looks like you won't be able to complete it, make recommendations to drop the course.
Don't wait to contact us – do it right away so we know what is going on and, if necessary, can help you get things back on track.
If you are having issues that you aren’t sure how to deal with, whether it is with your supervisor or a client, or you aren’t comfortable with the work you are being asked to do or don’t understand something, contact your CSL Coordinator or Lisa Jarvis, Manager of Community and Workplace Partnerships. We will work with you, the community partner, and your professor to address the issue.
Your concerns will be treated with confidentiality.
If the program is cancelled or you are otherwise told by your placement supervisor not to attend a certain session, then you don’t usually need to make up that session. This missed session and the reason for it needs to be recorded in your attendance on Navigator and verified by your placement supervisor.
If it looks like you are going to miss two or more sessions due to program cancellation, contact your CSL Coordinator, as you may need to make other arrangements.
Students are responsible for all costs associated with their placement. While it is rare there are costs associated with placements, expenses such as bus/taxi fare, parking, etc. are not covered by our office. We do our best to indicate in a posting if there is an associated cost with a placement. If necessary, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves or masks should be provided by your placement organization.
Finishing Your Course and Placement
A couple weeks before your placement is set to end, remind your placement supervisor of when your last visit will be, and take the opportunity to say goodbye and thank those you have worked with.
Complete your Student Evaluation of Experience in Navigator: It will only take a few minutes and once you complete it, the experience will be published to your Laurier Experience Record. Your feedback is only accessible to your professor and CWP staff.
After you complete your Student Evaluation your course and experience will be published to your Laurier Experience Record