The Independent Project

Would you like to stretch beyond the requirements of your regular coursework to include making a positive impact in your community?  The Service Learning / Civic Engagement Program encourages students to develop independent service-oriented projects with specific learning objectives related to a course in which you are currently enrolled, past courses, or related to your major.  If you are Interested in getting your service-oriented co-curricular work credited on your transcript as a service-learning / civic engagement (SLCE) project, this is how it works:

Step 1. Submit a complete Independent Student Project Application to the SLCE office using the ONLINE application form prior to the beginning of the term. 

Step 2. Meet with the SLCE coordinator to discuss your project in the second week of class.

Step 3. With the approval of the SLCE coordinator, add the SLCE course to your semester schedule.

Writing the Project Description

The SLCE Independent Student Project Application will ask you to describe your project’s goals, the types of activities you will be engaged in, and with whom you will be working.  You will also need to articulate how your work is providing a community service.  The "learning" part of service learning requires an explicit connection be established between the service activity and the learning objectives of a class or your major.  You will be asked to describe these ties, and locate at least one academic article relating the type of activity in which you are engaged with an area of academic interest.  Finally, you will be asked to describe the project-related assignments.  This may involve one or more reflection essays, or other deliverable that represents your work, such as a project report, portfolio, action plan, teaching curriculum, website, completed application, or formal presentation.   

NOTE:  If you are in the early planning stages of a project, or simply want to know more about the independent project program, contact the service-learning coordinator.