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SL/CE Course Designation Application Overview

To recruit, track, and celebrate students who accept the challenges involved in service-oriented courses, and the instructors who make such courses possible, the designations Service Learning, Service Engagement, and Community Engagement have been created. Designations will appear in the course title in the Course Schedule and on student transcripts for courses.  

In compliance with best practices, in order to be designated as SL/CE by the Registrar's Office, course offerings must be certified by the Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement. Once a course has been approved for an SL/CE designation, any instructor may teach it as a SL/CE course, so long as they adhere to the syllabus and related activities associated with the original approval. Course sections taught with differing syllabi &/or differing assignments related to the SL/CE component must be certified independently. Before submitting a course for certification, please review Developing a SL/CE Course. 

Because any given course may be offered simultaneously in the traditional and Service modes, unit administrators must individually identify each SL/CE-oriented section of a course in the Course Schedule when it is forwarded to the Registrar each semester. Upon receipt and approval of a designation application, each SL/CE course will be entered into our CE activity tracking system, Collabororaty, so administrators can affirm that your course has been approved for the designation, BUT you should let them know your intention to teach the course as SL/CE. 

  • Course offerings that involve active engagement in the community where that engagement is expected to supplement and reinforce learning, (with a minimum of 4 community contact hours) may qualify for the CE course certification.

    The certification process for the CE designation will confirm:

    • Attention to Reciprocity
      Community partners should be equals in the relationship. Consider what do partner(s) get out of their interaction, even though CE students do not offer service. For example, many CBOs want to get their message out & see interaction with college students as a worthy cause. Also, we be happy to brainstorm with you about finding funds to offer honorariums to outstanding partners. We also are evaluating strategies to increase awards/publicity for partners, etc. 
    • Career Readiness SLO
      Adherence to at least one NACE career readiness competency as an SL/CE SLO together with reflection tying the SLO to course concepts and the community experience.
    • Hours in the Community
      At least 4 hours for each student per semester of active engagement in the community.
    • Reporting Connections
      Each semester, partners, focal domains, and contact hours should be reported in Collaboratory, our community engagement data tracking system.

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  • Courses that employ service to the community where that service is expected to supplement and reinforce learning (generally 4-14 hours) may qualify for the SE course certification.

    The certification process for the SE designation will confirm:

    • Attention to Reciprocity
      Community partners should be equals in the relationship. Service done should derive from community identified needs
    • Career Readiness SLO
      Adherence to at least one NACE career readiness competency as a SL/CE SLO together with reflection tying the SLO to course concepts and the service.
    • Hours of Service
      Generally 4-14 hours per semester for each student of active service in the community.
    • Reporting Service
      Each semester, partners, service domains, and hours served should be reported in Collaboratory, our community engagement data tracking system.

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  • SL courses focus on synergies between academic content and service experiences through both instruction and deep reflection connecting service and content. The lessons students gain from service should be on equal standing as textbook and course discussion.

    The certification process for the SE designation will confirm:

    • Attention to Reciprocity
      Community partners should be equals in the relationship. Service done should derive from community identified needs
    • Career Readiness SLO
      Adherence to at least two NACE career readiness competency as SL/CE SLOstogether with reflection tying the SLO to course concepts and the service.
    • Hours of Service
      Generally 15-25 hours per semester for each student of active service in the community.
    • Reporting Service
      Each semester, partners, service domains, and hours served should be reported in Collaboratory, our community engagement data tracking system.

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