Service Learning Community 2010
What is a CAP?
Community Action Project
 Culmination of what is taught at the
service site and what is needed by the
service site
 SLC students will use their resources
and expertise to implement a program or
project by April
 All students must complete a CAP to
pass SLC

Type 1:
CAP for Community Partners
Designed to meet a specific need
identified by the community partner
Students will use the expertise and
resources available on campus or
research skills and energy to find the
best way to address the need or
problem
Type 2:
CAP for the Villanova Community
Implement an educational program at
Villanova about an issue students have
become aware of, and passionate
about, through their service experience
Guidelines
The program must be designed so the
CAP can be implemented before the
end of Spring Semester.
 Completion of the project and
implementation must be by April 15
 Each group will be given funds to
support the project, not exceeding $100.
Fundraising for more expenses is
allowed, with supervision.

CAP Groups
Your van to your fall semester service =
your CAP group
 CAP project groups will meet every other
week (in the van) with additional meetings
as needed
 Each CAP group will have a leader, who
will report progress to the CAP mentor, call
meetings, keep small groups on tasks and
resolve problems in the group to continue
improving and progressing on the project.

CAP Group Members
1.
2.
Leader
Calls meetings, keeps
meetings productive and on
task. Report students who
fail to show up for
preparation meetings. Sets
up a meeting once a month
with the instructor assigned
to your CAP group. Resolves
problems in the group as
they arise.
Community Partner Liaison
(1-2 people)
Deals directly with the
Community Partner and is a
link between the CAP group
and the service site
Secretary
Will take notes and send out
minutes with assignments.
Minutes are to be sent to the
student leader AND CAP
mentor
3.
Implementation Team
In charge of implementation.
Ensures that all funds are
secured for supplies, a date
is set with the Community
Partner and a team is ready
for implementation
4.
“Many parts, one body.”

Each one of you has unique traits and
talents which make your team stronger

Teams will be divided according to abilities and
preferences so that each person has a
specific role


Put your all into that role in order to
contribute to your team and work
cohesively
Each part is vital to the body’s
functioning as a whole– everyone
should be included and appreciated as
such
For example…





Ears – There is often a group member who is great at listening and
taking it all in, interpreting the many ideas that are thrown out there and
compiling them into a unified plan.
Mouth – One group member might be able to articulate ideas well and
delegate tasks or disseminate information. Often it is this person’s job to
send out the emails and keep everyone in the loop.
Brain – This person often finds the solutions to tricky problems, good at
getting the team out of a jam. This individual also is great a turning
mixed signals into a logical approach.
Feet – Takes the group where they need to go, always pointing ahead
and carrying the group to one goal. Keeps people on track (makes sure
everyone shows up to meetings, ensures that deadlines will be met and
work is on schedule, etc.)
Hands – This person is a “doer”… likes to always stay active and have
a project to work on. Could also apply to the team scribe/secretary; a
person who is organized and likes to compile ideas on paper.
September - October
Step 1: Set up groups
Your van group = your CAP group
 Groups of 5-12 – some van groups may
need to combine
 Establish roles and responsibilities in the
group
 Select a team leader
 Know your CAP mentor

October – November – December
Step 2: Identify a need with your
Community Partner




Set up a meeting with the Community Partner
to discuss the needs that could be addressed
over the course of a semester
As many students from the group as is
possible should be in attendance
If there are a lot of students in a particular
group, a representative team from each of the
CAP groups can meet and identify several
possible ideas from your community partner
Notes must be taken so that when students
return to their CAP group, they are clear on
the needs expressed by the Community
Partner
October – November – December
Step 3: Identify Realistic Action
CAP groups will meet and discuss how
they will implement a project for the
Service Site
October – November – December
Step 4: Define Your Project


Brainstorm possible actions to address the
need expressed by the Community Partner, or
other ways in which you can implement the
project given by the Service Site Liaison
Create a Research and Action Plan
 What are the underlying issues related to the
identified need?
 What questions do you have about this issue and
how can the need by addressed with the population?

Research assignments are delegated among
group members
October – November – December
Step 5: RESEARCH!
Each member of the CAP group will
research the need presented by the
Community Partner and come up with
three ways of addressing that need.
Seek out experts as resources or guides to
resources and research!
December – January – February – March
Step 6: Submit a Proposal
CAP Groups will decide what they want
their project to be
 The Secretary will write up a proposal to
be approved by the CAP Mentor,
Instructor and Community Partner and
have each member of the group sign his
or her name to the project
 Once the proposal has been approved,
CAP groups may move forward on their
project

December – January – February – March
Step 7: Complete Project Design


GOAL: BEFORE SPRING BREAK!!!
CAP groups will make a final plan for
implementation, including:





A title for the project
Delegation of roles in the group
Gathering materials
Practicing
Securing a date for implementation through the
Community Partner
 Email date of implementation to Noreen Cameron

Design a three-slide PowerPoint presentation
for the Celebration Dinner and elect a
Spokesperson
April 1-15
Step 8: Implementation and
Reflection
If suitable, you may implement your project
during Community Partnership Day
 Your project must be implemented by April
13 (Community Partnership Dinner)
 Reflection:

 What did you learn by doing this project?
 If you were to go one step further and had no
resource limitations, what would you like to do
about this issue/problem?
 Would you like to see the continuation of your
project at the service site?
April 13, 2011
Step 9: Presentation at the
Celebration Dinner
CAP groups, or an elected
spokesperson, will give a 3-minute
overview with 1-3 slides that explain the
goal and outcome of your project
 The PowerPoint presentation should
include:

 The title and purpose of your CAP Project
 The need that was addressed
 What you learned
Please wait for instructions!