VOLUNTEER & SERVICE-LEARNING CENTER

1. Cleveland Hall 306 716-878-5811 vslc@buffalostate.edu http://vslc.buffalostate.edu VOLUNTEER & SERVICE-LEARNING CENTER

2. WHAT IS SERVICE-LEARNING? A form of active learning that links learning in the classroom with activities that students participate in to address the needs of the surrounding community. Last year 1,779 students completed over 45,000 hours of service through 104 service-learning courses

3. BENEFITS OF SERVICE-LEARNING FOR STUDENTS Develop and improve skills Meet new people Improve your resume Explore professional fields Make a difference!

4. BUFFALO STATE STUDENT REPORTED BENEFITS OF SERVICE-LEARNING * Working as part of a team *Communication skills * Problem-solving skills * Research skills * Analytical skills * Critical thinking skills * Computer skills * Social self-confidence * Public speaking skills * Real world experience TEN TOP SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2013 Communication skills (verbal ) Ability to work in a team Problem-solving skills Plan, organize and prioritize work Research skills Analytical skills Technical skills Computer skills Communication skills (written) Leadership NOTICE ANYTHING?

5. STUDENT FEEDBACK 78% would encourage other students to try service-learning 83% learn course content best when connections are made to real life 93% felt they learn from people who are different from them 88% felt they could make a difference in the community

6. BUFFALO’S ASSETS • Rated #1 on Forbes’ “America’s Most Affordable Cities” • Buildings designed by over 100 American architects, including H.H. Richardson, Louis Sullivan, E.B. Green & Frank Lloyd Wright • Buffalo Park System designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead • 21 institutions of higher education in the metro-region • 2,000 refugees and immigrants resettle in Buffalo every year

7. BUFFALO’S ASSETS • Over 80 community gardens • Garden Walk Buffalo is the largest garden tour in America • Buffalo is home to over 50 art galleries and 22 professional theaters • Shakespeare in Delaware Park is the second largest outdoor Shakespeare festival in the country • Hosts the third oldest zoo in the US

8. 4th poorest large city in the US • 26% of families live in poverty • 3rd most abandoned houses • Buffalo’s vacancy rate is triple the rest of Erie County (15.7%) BUFFALO’S CHALLENGES

9. 2,000 people are homeless on any given night in Buffalo. • 57% of Buffalo’s children (under age 5) live in poverty. • 1/3 of the adult population in Buffalo live below the poverty line. • Buffalo-Niagara region is the 8th most segregated in US BUFFALO’S CHALLENGES

10. NEW ARRIVALS ON THE WESTSIDE • 24% of all refugees that come into NYS settle in Buffalo • Each year 1,600-2,000 refugees are resettled in Buffalo • The Westside is the most diverse neighborhood, with over 70 spoken languages • Countries of origin include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Ghana, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Thailand

11. BUFFALO’S YOUTH • 42% of youth (ages 5-18) in the city of Buffalo live in poverty • Poor children are twice as likely to have repeated a grade, to have been expelled or suspended, or to have dropped out of high school • The high school graduation rate for the city is 54% • 85% of all child care programs in Buffalo do not meet national standards

12. YOUR SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE Community Partner Organizations Say That Service-Learning Students Help Them To…. 100% Increase the number of clients served 98% Better meet community needs 96% Increase mentoring services 100% Incorporate new ideas 98% Increase services offered 98% Make new connections

13. EXPECTATIONS Be prompt and positive at the organization Be open to learning about cultures and lifestyles that are different than your own Be respectful Communicate with your supervisor if uncomfortable or uncertain Call ahead of time if you are unable to make your scheduled time • Address issues promptly (with supervisor, faculty, VSLC staff) • Remember, you are representing SUNY Buffalo State

14. GETTING STARTED EXPECTATIONS • When calling your contact or arriving at the site for the first time: • Introduce yourself • State the reason you are calling (or are present) • State the service-learning course and professor • Know how many hours you are required to complete • Know the course’s objective for your service-learning

15. SERVICE LOG Keep an accurate record of your service hours Have the community agency or staff verify your hours and sign your service log Sign and return to your professor

16. SAFETY REMINDERS • Familiarize yourself with the new area ahead of time • Travel with a buddy • Carry only what you need • Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return • Always lock your doors and leave a light on • Park or walk in well-lit areas • Never leave valuables in plain sight • If you become a victim of a crime call 991 (on-campus call 716-878-6333)

17. SERVICE-LEARNING DESIGNATED COURSES To Find Service-Learning Designated Courses: To Know if a Course includes Service-Learning:

18. OTHER VSLC OPPORTUNITIES • Volunteer Fair & September 11 National Day of Service (September 11, 2014) • Alternative Break (November 2014-June 2015) • Certificate of Recognition for Community Engagement (due March 13, 2015) • Spring Community Service Day (April 11, 2015)