What Should an Academic Service-Learning Syllabus Include?

One semester I agreed to conduct Camp Sharigan at a new community worksite. Everything was set, checked, and rechecked. The night before Camp Sharigan was scheduled to begin, the community organization informed me that they would no longer be able to host Camp Sharigan. No, I did not even think about rescheduling. All of my students had worked out their family and work schedules and arranged to be available for the afterschool hours when Camp Sharigan was to be held. We also had four other university classes planning to participate. Furthermore, we had 30 children scheduled to show up after school. Everything was working as planned, except for the worksite location. Fortunately, there was another community organization directly across the street. I called. They said yes. I stationed students at the original site to direct children and parents across the street. Greeters at the door and footprints inside the building led to our new location. The week was fabulous. Camp Sharigan went off without a hitch, and I continued to work at this new community worksite for the next eight years. When we work with others, even the best laid plans can go awry. The way you help students deal with and conquer problems is part of the learning process. An academic service-learning syllabus invites students to participate and learn about life in the real world. An academic service-learning syllabus is not the same as a syllabus that you write for a lecture class. Scheduling is important. An academic service-learning syllabus should be focused on learning and guide the course.