Jan and Bud Richter Center
Faculty Service-Learning Resources
Over two decades of research shows that service-learning (SL) is a highly effective approach to teaching and learning, providing numerous benefits to students, instructors, the university, and the community.
Fresno State is committed to making service-learning, a High Impact Practice, a part of the complete educational experience provided by our university. The university offers an average of 170 service-learning courses each year, which enroll approximately 4,000 students annually. Learn more about service-learning on campus from a faculty member's perspective below.
Stories of Service: Betsy Hays
Professor Betsy Hays shares her experience incorporating service-learning in her public relations courses at Fresno State. Video produced by service-learning students enrolled in MCJ 118S: Corporate and Nonprofit Media Projects.
The Richter Center is dedicated to supporting faculty members and students in all facets of service-learning. We offer a number of online and in-person training and support, including, but not limited to:
There are two different options for service-learning courses:
- The service-learning (S) designation
- The service-learning footnote (Footnote 13).
The following information will help you decide which is the best option for the course you are teaching.
"S" Course Process and Criteria
The following footnote (13) can be used by any course which meets the indicated criteria (see below). To utilize this footnote, you must include it with course information when submitting Schedule of Courses copy to the Scheduling Office.
Footnote 13: "This class meets the minimum university requirements for a service-learning
course, which includes: (1) the service-learning component is integral to and supportive
of the academic focus of the course; (2) the course has a mechanism to introduce the
service ethic; (3) students are required to perform at least 15 hours of academically
relevant community service with a nonprofit, not-for-profit, government entity or
similar community benefit organization; (4) service-learning accounts for at least
15% of the total course grade; and (5) structured opportunities for critical reflection
on the service experience are provided.
Should you have questions on the footnote content, please contact Chris Fiorentino,
Director of the Jan & Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning
at 559.278.7079 or chrisf@csufresno.edu.
Should you have questions on footnote procedures in general, please contact the Scheduling Office at 559.278.2491.
Service-Learning Course Materials
Below are service-learning course materials which may be useful to faculty members.
- Orientation Checklist
- Service-Learning Learning Plan Template (Required)
- Student Tracking/Timesheet
- Agency Evaluation of Student
- Student Evaluation of Agency
- Safety Guidelines for Service
- Student Academic Field Experience for Credit Liability Insurance Program (SAFECLIP)
If you have questions or concerns regarding any of these materials, please do not hesitate to contact the Richter Center at 559.278.7079.
The Online Faculty Service-Learning Modules provide excellent background, information, and professional development resources for faculty members who wish to learn more about service-learning, including information on developing a new service-learning course or improving an existing course.
The Richter Center provides a series of online modules designed specifically for students. Many faculty members use some or all of the Online Service-Learning Student Modules as a way to introduce students to service-learning and inform them about some of the things that they should expect from a service-learning course, and things that will be expected of them.