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Service Learning

Service Learning Logo

Service Learning moving forward to Community Engaged Learning!

±«Óãtv, a Catholic university in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions, is doubling down on the investment we have made in community engagement by formalizing our commitment to Community Engaged Learning (CEL.) The Institute for Leadership and Service wants to connect with all CEL faculty to hear your perspective on how we can meet the objectives of CEL.

In order to have your course designated with the CEL attribute for Winter 2025 Semester, the first round deadline has already passed. We may accept a second round of proposals in early November. If you would like to have a proposal considered in this second round, please email Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu. We will also be accepting proposals for Fall 2025 courses in January 2025. If you want to work a proposal, here is a 

 

You can download a copy of the Proposal Template to create your own proposal and link to .

Any ±«Óãtv employee our student who is interested in exploring the resources we are compiling to support our move to Community Engaged Learning is invited to explore our . Note: If you are not a ±«Óãtv employee or student and interested in viewing these pages, please email Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu

On-Campus Service Opportunities

Rx for Reading Detroit

Rx for Reading is a children's literacy initiative sponsored by ±«Óãtv.  Our mission is to expand access to children's books and support families in reading with their children. ±«Óãtv students distribute over 2,500 children's books a month through our community partners, including low-income health, dental and WIC clinics, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, community centers and churches.  Volunteer opportunities include reading with local preschoolers and elementary students and painting little free libraries to be delivered to community partners.


 To learn more about Rx for Reading, see their webpage at . If you are interested in volunteering, email mc.harrison@udmercy.edu to let Prof. Harrison know of your interest and discuss options.

Detroit Prevention and Awareness in the Community

DPAC is a student organization on campus that aims to spread awareness of sexual assault, dating violence and domestic violence, and to inform the campus community of resources available for dealing with such situations. DPAC provides various campus events to teach about the warning signs, severity and proper responses to situations of sexual assault, dating violence and domestic violence, as well as peer education groups led by students. Additionally, they are partnered with local agencies that provide support and services to victims of sexual assault, dating violence and domestic violence in order to connect student volunteers and university resources with community service opportunities. 

DPAC is constantly looking for student volunteers to help with on campus and community events. To find out more, please like our  or contact Nina Carlson at carlsonm@udmercy.edu. 

Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN)

TENN has several opportunities to serve as volunteers and leaders in community food justice efforts, including weekly produce deliveries, food justice workshops, and service days at various urban gardens in Detroit. To learn more and connect with TENN, view its for current sign ups and a calendar of events, or email tenn@udmercy.edu. 

Service in the City

Service in the City offers opportunities during the week to help in two Detroit tutoring programs. On many Saturdays they also offer one-time service opportunities to places like the Pope Francis Center, Habitat for Humanity and other local organizations. Visit the Service Immersion website or read the for more information. If you're interested in volunteering, contact Samantha Eckrich at 313-993-1560.

International Conversation Partners

This is a great opportunity for international and United States students to come together to make friends and learn about each other's cultures. If you're interested or would like to learn more, contact Lara Wasner at wasnerle@udmercy.edu.

Other Organizations

You can consider joining Alpha Phi Omega. This national service fraternity is focused on providing service to the community. ±«Óãtv's Eta Pi Chapter is a warm, welcoming organization. If you are interested, contact Fr. Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu. 

If you're looking for more opportunities, visit our  for up-to-date information on special opportunities.

Finding Opportunities to Serve in the Community

Here are some options for finding places you can serve according to your gifts and needs.

Try the list of opportunities that the Institute has identified for you. First click on the type of Service Opportunities you are looking for below. The opportunities are with agencies who are familiar with ±«Óãtv and the Institute.

  1. Close to Campus
  2. Contact Information for all Current Agencies
  3. Direct Service Only
  4. Environmental Work (includes Fighting Blight, Community Gardens, Beautification, Clean Water)
  5. Health-related (includes Physical Health, Mental Health, Disabilities and Substance Abuse)
  6. Poverty-related (includes issues of hunger, homelessness and poverty)
  7. Regularly Scheduled Opportunities
  8. Weekend Opportunities (Opportunities from the above lists that are available on the weekends)
  9. Working with Youth

 

Or - if you are looking for Gap Year opportunities: 

Service Learning Forms

Service Learning Guide for Students: a guide for students who are new to the Service Learning program 

  • Pre-Evaluation Form: This form is administered and collected when ILS does the Service Learning presentation - if you missed it, fill this out and get it to the Institute in Briggs 212. The pre-evaluation is the new replacement for the old SL-1 Form.

  • Service Agreement (formerly SL2): This form is optional. If your teacher asked you to use it, here it is. Many teachers simply use a roster that is given to your professor by ILS. This form is due by the fourth week of the semester.

  • Service Verification (formerly SL3): This form you give to your service agency representative to verify your service hours. This form is due by the 12th week of the semester. Click here for Fillable PDF Version of this form and Instructions on how to fill out that form.
  • Post-Evaluation Form: This form normally administered by the Institute at one of the last classes of your course. Check with your teacher before filling this out yourself.

±«Óãtv Faculty Resources

Do you need to schedule your presentation or want us to prepare a list of course-appropriate service sites?  Contact the ILS office at 313-993-2003 or by email at theinstitute@udmercy.edu. Please give us a few weeks notice in advance of your course.

For the COVID-19 Era

One resource is available now. More coming. Check back often. Here is the first:

Faculty Resources Linked to Service Learning Outcomes

Faculty Resources for Course Planning

Considering Service Learning?

If you would like to discuss the possibility of adding a service learning component to your course, please call Tim Hipskind, S.J. at 313-993-2003 or email him at hipskijt@udmercy.edu

Want to learn more about Service Learning

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. You can either call Tim Hipskind, S.J. at 313-993-2003 or you can e-mail him at hipskijt@udmercy.edu.

Other Faculty Service-Learning Online Resources

General Links for Service Learning

  •  - Promoting the partnership between colleges and communities
  •  - A massive database for service learning projects and ideas, frequent updates
  • Faculty Service Learning Toolkit

Service Learning Syllabus Links

  •  - Syllabi for almost every subject

Resources on Reflection

  • A goldmine from  on reflection – types, structuring it, using it.

  •  from St. Norbert College

  •  from Macomb Community College New York

If you know of any other helpful links, please e-mail us at theinstitute@udmercy.edu. We're always looking for better input.