Dr. Suchitra Gururaj, Yvonne Loya, Amory Baril

2. Reflection and Reinforcement: Community Engagement and
the Student Experience
Session Agenda
• Overview of the Volunteer & Service Learning Center
• Review the Basis of Effective Reflection
• Self-Reflection Activity
• VSLC Student Leaders Panel
• Q&A

3. Overview
The Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC):
• Is the connection to service through The University of Texas at
Austin,
• Coordinates volunteerism and service learning opportunities
for students across campus,
• And is the key liaison on campus for The Texas Campus
Compact.

4. General Volunteer Services
UT Volunteer Fair
The UT Volunteer Fair provides an opportunity for student volunteers to
gather information from a variety of non-profit agencies interested in
working with the UT community.
Online Volunteer Database
Access the VSLC’s online database at www.utvolunteers.org to search for
ongoing volunteer opportunities. Through this database you can search by
interest area, non-profit group, or view the event calendar.
Serve Here Spotlight
A weekly listserv published every Monday, to a campus and community
audience, announcing upcoming public service opportunities, service
events, and scholarships and internships. Text UTVSLC to 22828 to sign-up.

5. Co-curricular Programs/Events
Academic Service Learning
Academic Service Learning classes integrates community service with instruction and
reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen the community.
Visit www.vslc.org for a list of service learning courses.
UT Service Scholars
In partnership with the LBJ School of Public Affairs, this program engages UT students in
intense service opportunities that prepare students to take their service interests to the next
level.
Texas FIRST
This community service organization is designed to meet the needs of first year students. This
organization holds community service, social, and refection events to increase student
involvement with the Austin community.
The UT Service Council
This new initiative provides UT student organizations the opportunity to unify, collaborate,
network, and develop public service opportunities on and off campus. It also provide a vehicle
for students to collectively assess the needs of the university and the community, and react
quickly for emergency events (Haiti Earthquake 2010, Bastrop Relief Effort, etc.).

6. The Academic Service-Learning Program
Academic service-learning is:
• A form of experiential education in which students engage in
activities that address community needs;
• A program of study that integrates service with goal learning
outcomes;
• A method of pedagogy in which service and learning are
equally critical components.

7. Keys to Service-Learning
Reflection activities help students connect what they learn through
their service with the theoretical background that is set forth through
course materials.
• What?
• So What?
• Now What?
Reflection needs to be
• Continuous
• Connected
• Challenging
• Contextualized

8. Keys to Service-Learning
Reciprocity between the organization being served and those engaged in
service promotes a sense of mutual responsibility and a situation in which
students feel a sense of belonging in the community and community partners
feel empowered to bring in the help they need to meet a priority.

9. Benefits of Academic Service-Learning Courses
Students:
• Engagement in academic service-learning may enhance students’
interpersonal, cognitive, moral, and intellectual development, as well as a sense
of civic responsibility
• Students may also begin making deep connections between coursework and
real-world application in employment or community service.
Instructors:
• Faculty members have the opportunity to develop courses that facilitate
student learning and encourage strong collaborative relationships between
students and instructors.
Community Partners:
• Eager, enthusiastic student learners enable organizations to meet their goals
as well as represent the link between the partner and the intellectual resources
at The University of Texas at Austin.

10. How You Can Help Build the Service-Learning Program
• Let our students know about the idea of service-learning;
• Learn what areas students are most interested in developing ;
• Get a sense of what courses students are in that incorporate
service.

11. Reflection Activity

12. UT Scholars Panel

13. Participate in VSLC Signature Volunteer Events and Opportunities
Project 2012 – Be a part of UT’s largest day of service taking place on
Saturday, February 25, 2012 in the Dove Spring Neighborhood.
Project Reach Out – Bi-annual day of service event that is hosted in
partnership with a variety of non-profit organizations throughout
Austin. The Spring 2012 PRO Event will take place on March 24, 2012.
Tower Awards - The Tower Awards are presented annually to honor
excellence in volunteerism among the students, faculty, and staff at
The University of Texas at Austin. Nominations can be submitted on
our website. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May
2, 2012.

14. Contact us!
vslc.org
Yvonne Loya
yloya@austin.utexas.edu
Suchitra Gururaj
suchi.gururaj@austin.utexas.edu
Amory Baril
Amory.baril@austin.utexas.edu

15. Questions?