Service Learning Course Designation Form
Use this form to request a Service Learning Course Designation for a new or existing course.
Proposed course title should end with the following designation: /Service Learning
I. Service Learning Course
HHP
Dept/Program
Course Number
(e.g. SW UG 423)
Subject
Course Title (e.g.
Exercise is Medicine/SvcLrn
Addiction
Studies/SvcLrn)
Short Title (max. 26
Exercise is Medicine
characters incl. spaces)
3
Number of credits
Steven Gaskill and Reed Humphry
Instructor name
243-4268
Instructor phone
Steven.gaskill@umontana.edu
and e-mail
II. Endorsement/Approvals
191
243-2417
reed.humphrey@umontana.edu
Complete this form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office.
Please Type/Print Name
Signature
Requestor
Requestor phone
and e-mail
Program
Chair/Director
Other affected
programs
Dean
Date
6/22/13
Steven Gaskill
243-4268
Steven.gaskill@umontana.edu
Scott Richter
Roberta Evans
III. UM Service Learning Definition: Service Learning is a method of teaching and learning
in which students, faculty and community partners work together to enhance student
learning by applying academic knowledge in a community-based setting. Student work
addresses the needs of the community, as identified through collaboration with community
or tribal partners, while meeting instructional objectives through faculty-structured service
work and critical reflection meant to prepare students to be civically responsible members
of the community. At its best, service learning enhances and deepens students’
understanding of an academic discipline by facilitating the integration of theory and
practice, while providing them with experience that develops life skills and engages them
in critical reflection about individual, institutional, and social ethics.
IV.Service Learning Course Criteria The University of Montana-Missoula has established the
following criteria for Service Learning courses. In order to receive the Service Learning course
designation, a course must clearly exemplify all of the following criteria:
 Students in the course will provide a needed service to individuals, organizations, schools, or other
not-for-profit or tax-exempt entities in the community.
 The service experience is directly related to the subject matter of the course.
 Knowledge from the discipline informs the service experiences with which the students are to be
involved.
 Activities in the classroom will provide opportunities for students to actively reflect upon what they
have learned through the service experience and how these experiences relate to the subject matter of
the course. Reflection should be imbedded as course assignments and in-class time should be
scheduled to do reflection – both should be clear on the syllabus. Reflection should incorporate
discussion/assignments that help students understand the importance of meeting community needs
through service and civic engagement in a democratic society.
 The course offers a method to assess the learning derived from the service. Credit will be given for
the learning and its relation to the course, not for the service alone.
 Service interactions in the community will recognize the needs of service recipients and represent
reciprocal partnerships between the campus (class) and community partner organization(s).
Community partner(s) should have the opportunity to provide advice and feedback in class on the
nature and value of the service performed by the students.
 Training (by the service agency) and preparation (by the course instructor) ensure that students
perform service activities in a professional manner and that vulnerable populations are not harmed.
 Service options ensure that no student is required to participate in a service placement that creates a
religious, political, or moral conflict for the student.
 In a 3-credit service learning course, students should be required to perform a minimum of 15 hours
of community service per semester (i.e. 5 hours of service per academic credit.) Service hours may
include hours spent in training, preparation, and direct contact with clients.
V. Confirmation of Service Learning Course Criteria: Explain how this course meets each of
the following criteria.
Need for service: Describe the communityStudents in this course will work primarily in
identified need and the nature of the service
Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS)
experience students will be involved in.
with the Active Kids Program, a collaboration
between the University of Missoula and
MCPS. Students will work with MCPS
faculty to help monitor classroom, recess and
other activity time. Some students may also
help with Flagship activity programs and
YMCA Active 6 programs at the YMCA or
those offered through Flagship and Parks
and Recreation.
Relation to course content: Describe how the
This course focuses on the global obesity
service experience is related to the subject matter of and sedentary epidemic and possible
the course. How do students apply their classroom solutions. The service learning is critical to
learning in the service experience?
understanding local solutions.
Reflection: What opportunities are provided in the This class meets once a week for 150
classroom for students to reflect upon what they
minutes. The instructor will spend about ½
have learned through their service experience? How hour each week talking about Service
is service placed within the broader context of civic Learning issues and problems, as well as
engagement and service to others?
successes and what works for different age
k-12 students that the class members are
helping (confidentiality of all students is
maintained).
Assessment: What method(s) are used to assess
the learning derived from the service experience?
Reciprocity: How do community partner(s)
provide advice and feedback on the nature and
value of the service performed?
Training: What training and preparation will be
provided to assure that that students perform their
service activities in a professional manner and that
vulnerable populations are not harmed?
Service options: What service options exist to
ensure that no student is required to participate in a
service placement that creates a religious, political,
or moral conflict?
While it is difficult to assess the actual
improved learning of content we do several
things in the class to assess the service
learning including:
1) Feedback form from each service
organization.-2.5%
2) Reflection paper by each student with
critical analysis of what they learned,
evaluation of strengths and
weaknesses and how what they
learned affects their personal
attitudes towards health. -15%
3) Attendance at Service Learning.2.5%
The instructor requests a short feedback
form or letter from each organization which
students volunteer with asking for feedback
on student service. Additionally, each
organization is provided with a sheet
outlining the student expectations.
All students will participate in a 2 hour
training session with Mary McCourt from the
Missoula Health on proper/ethical/practical
procedures to work with children. This has
proven to be a very effective program for
HHP 226 and will also be used for this
course.
Additionally: Students will receive in class
instructions appropriate to their school
placement concerning appropriate activities
and skills. Each school also has a team in
place and will have specific duties for each
service learning student from this class and
an assigned mentor at each school.
Students who do their work with the YMCA
or Flagship will also receive the
organization’s specific training as part of their
service.
Options include: MCPS, Flagship and YMCA.
None of these organizations create a
political, religious or moral conflict and have
provided many students with good service
learning opportunities in the past. Should a
student not be able to schedule one of these
programs, there are opportunities for
independent service learning with small
projects that are possible.
Number of service hours required: How many
hours of service per semester are students required
to perform? Provide detailed description of the
service activities to be performed.
Students will be expected to spend about 15
hours (1 hour per week) during the semester
on this project of which about 10 hours will
be working in a school setting and about 5
hours will be training and related work. Most
activities will be helping with programs to
enable physical activity in schools or during
extra-curricular time. Opportunities will be
available for students in this class to work in
one of a number of settings including: 1) Inclassroom leadership of 10 minute
instructional (curricular) activities to teach
math, reading, science, history, geography
etc. using a combination of physical
movement and learning strategies, 2) Active
Recess monitoring to help less active youth
learn game and play skills and generally to
encourage active movement during recess,
3) Before and after school leadership of
walking/jogging programs to encourage PA
4) During School Activity breaks leading fun
physical activities for middle and high school
students. 5) Active 6 or Flagship program
leadership/support 6) Other similar
possibilities.
VI. Community Partner Information: Provide information on the organization(s) that will
provide service placements for students in this course.
Name of Agency/Organization(s)
Contact person name(s)
Contact person(s) phone and e-mail
Phone Numbers easily available if needed
Missoula County Public School
YMCA
Missoula Parks and Recreation
Missoula Flagship
Karen Allen, and Selected MCPS Principals
and faculty
Amanda Andrews – YMCA
Donna Gaukler, Linda Henderson & Christy
Nelson – Parks and Rec
Rosie Buzzas - Flagship
Karen Allen-MCPS
kallen@mcps.k12.mt.us
Shanna Nickerson –YMCA
snickerson@ymcamissoula.org
Donna Gaukler – Parks and Rec
DGaukler@ci.missoula.mt.us
Rosie Buzzas-Flagship
rbuzzas@wmmhc.org
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. The syllabus should
clearly indicate that this is a service learning course and it should include the UM Service Learning
Definition as text within the syllabus. The syllabus should also demonstrate how the above criteria are
satisfied. For assistance in preparing a service learning course syllabus, see
http://www.compact.org/syllabi/ or contact Andrea Vernon, Director of the Office for Civic
Engagement: andrea.vernon@umontana.edu.
Attached
VIII. Copies and Electronic Submission: Submit approved original, a copy, and electronic
file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.
Revised 6/10