SERVICE LEARNING STUDENT ORIENTATION

Student Orientation is an ideal opportunity for host community agencies and STFX students to clarify mutual expectations.

Host organizations are encouraged to provide some form of orientation. The length and depth of this session will depend on the organization and the nature of the service that the student is performing. For example, stocking shelves at the food bank will obviously require less orientation than providing individual support for person with developmental delays. Many host organizations adapt their new staff orientation program to suit the short-term nature of a service learning placement.

As a suggestion, an orientation session could include:

  • A tour of the site where the student will be providing service
  • Introduction to the site supervisor, and other staff or volunteers as appropriate
  • A review for the agency's mission statement, philosophy or other program information
  • A review of general procedures, policies and agency rules, and information on fire safety, including: nearest exits, procedures for self evacuation, and procedures for evacuation of clients if appropriate
  • Information regarding any risks associated with the service, any adjustments that have been made to minimize the risk, and any safety equipment that may be required (contact Service Learning Program office if equipment is needed)
  • Confidentiality
  • Dress code, scent free policies, name tags, etc.
  • Procedures for signing in, signing out, recording, etc.
  • A clear role for the student - what duties should the student perform while on placement?
  • Restricted activities - what activities should the student NOT perform while on placement?
  • Background information on clients, if appropriate

Encourage students to ask questions, seek clarification, and request further information as needed. From our perspective, it is the organization's role to provide orientation and training, and the students' responsibility to ensure that they understand the information presented.

To help our students make the most of their orientation time, we have provided them with the following list o questions, suggesting that students should be able to answer these questions after their initial orientation session with the host organization.

  1. What are my specific responsibilities?
  2. What are the Do's and Don'ts, the standards for behavior and professionalism?
  3. Who is my supervisor? What supervisory formats will be used? Feedback sessions, periodic evaluations, etc.
  4. If I have problems, whom do I turn to?
  5. Who are my co-workers?
  6. Where specifically will I be working?
  7. What features of my experience will best enable me to meet my learning objectives?
  8. Are there possible conflicts between my service responsibilities and my learning objectives?
  9. What self learning and helping skills do I need to be successful?
  10. What am I bringing to this experience which will be needed? (e.g.: skills, knowledge, attributes, values)
  11. What resources can I utilize to ge the most from my experience (agency supervisory, library, faculty member, reading materials, workshops, graining programs, agency information, etc.)?