Trek's Community component integrates service to the greater community with academic content and personal reflection. Skills development ideals are based on the AAC&U Civic Engagement VALUE Rubric.
Guidance
Faculty may submit a Trek Credit Course Proposal Form for a new or existing course to receive Community credit.
The four required components of a Community course or project are:
- Attending an official Introductory Session coordinated by a member of the Office of Community and Civic Engagement.
- Completing thirty (30) clock-hours of experience with an approved partner or program.
- Attending an official Capstone Meeting coordinated by a member of the Office of Community Engagement.
- Submitting a completed Community Assessment about the service-learning experience.
Assessment
The Trek Community component is assessed indirectly through a review of required student reflections on and evaluations of their experiences, and it is assessed directly by the faculty member or community supervisor.
The faculty member or supervisor will select the three (3) most relevant concepts from the AAC&U VALUE Rubric for Civic Engagement to which each student should respond. Each rubric item has a question or set of questions that have been approved by the Trek Committee:
Diversity of Communities and Cultures
How have your attitudes and beliefs about our broader community and the people within our community changed as a consequence of this service-learning experience? If they've changed, why do you think they did? If they didn't, why not?
Analysis of Knowledge
Describe at least two ways that the knowledge (facts, theories, etc.) from this class, your other classes, or your academic major connects to community engagement and participation through serving one's community.
Civic Identity and Commitment
Describe a specific activity, event, or conversation during your service-learning experience that taught you about yourself and the role you could or should play in your community. If you feel that this experience has not had such an effect, why not?
Civic Communication
Describe at least two ways that your service partner could more effectively communicate their services and mission to the community, deliver those services, recruit volunteers to assist their organization, or increase their effectiveness in acquiring funding.
Civic Contexts/Structures
Describe how you will use this experience going forward to work across and within our community to improve things for some (or all) members of our community or to address an ongoing social problem.
Each outcome is scored on the following scale..
0 No Competence
1 (LEAP benchmark 1) ELEMENTARY
2 (LEAP milestone 2) DEVELOPMENTAL
3 (LEAP milestone 3) PROFICIENT
4 (LEAP Capstone 4) EXEMPLARY