GEP Service-Learning | Faculty Resources

In alignment with General Education Goals and the Public Affairs Mission, GEP 101: First Year Foundations includes this Introduction to Service-Learning assignment (4 hours of service alongside a community agency and reflection). Service can be completed with many organizations or through one event. Hours and reflections are to be logged on CampusLink (access step-by-step instructions). Reflection prompts can be found on your GEP Brightspace site or from your instructor (access our reflection material).

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We can talk to your students about finding service, logging service, public affairs, etc.

Instructor step-by-step

  1. Log into your My Missouri State account and select CampusLink.
    My Missouri State screen shot with an arrow pointing to the Campus Link quick link.
  2. On the CampusLink homepage, you will see your current memberships. Select your GEP section.
    CampusLink screen shot with an arrow pointing to the GEP section button.
  3. On your group's home page, select Manage Organization at the top right.
    CampusLink screen shot with an arrow pointing to the manage organization button.
  4. On the top left corner, click to reveal a drop down menu of organization tools. Select Service Hours.
    CampusLink screen shot with an arrows pointing to the top left corner and resulting drop down menu item 'service hours'.
  5. Here you can access all of your students' service submissions and reflections. By selecting "Approve" in a pending submission, you can access the full submission, as shown in Step 6.
    CampusLink screen shot with status categories circled and an arrow pointing to the Action link.
  6. This shows your students' reflection and record of service. Instructors are able to comment, approve or deny the submission.
    CampusLink screen shot showing a sample record of service.

Reflection material

Structured reflection is the key by which service experiences are transformed into learning. As the link between the service and the learning, reflection helps students to think critically, problem solve, connect to academic knowledge, and connect to career competencies. Utilize the reflection resources below to provide a deeper understanding of service.

Issue-focused questions

  • Why is there a need for your service?
  • What do you perceive as the underlying issue, and why does it exist?
  • What social, economic, political, and educational systems are maintaining and perpetuating the situation?
  • What can you do with the knowledge you gained from this experience to promote change?

Learning partner questions

  • What similarities do you perceive between you and the people you are serving?
  • How are you perceived by the people you are serving?
  • What do you think a typical day is like for the people you serve? What pressures to they confront?

Self-focused questions

  • What personal qualities (e.g. leadership, communication skills, empathy, problem solving etc.) have you developed through your service experience?
  • What contribution can you make to public understanding of this issue based on your service-learning experience?
  • In what ways are you finding your involvement with service difficult? What have you found that is helping you follow through despite the difficulties you encounter?

Think pieces

  • Helping, Fixing, Serving
  • What, So What, Now What?
  • Social Change Model of Leadership
  • Root Causes
  • The Starfish Story
  • Power and Privilege

Videos