Agency Letter of Understanding
Dear Agency Supervisor:
On behalf of the Loyola University Service Learning program, we would like to thank you for entering into a partnership with us to provide richer educational opportunities for our students. By accepting and supervising our Service Learners, you are helping these students connect classroom theory with real-life experience. Ultimately you are also contributing to education's mission of promoting civic responsibility. In order to become involved with Loyola's Service Learning program, we kindly request that you review the information regarding Service Learning to ensure that placement is appropriate.Service Learning is the combination of academic coursework with carefully planned, meaningful service that provides direct benefits to the community.
The goals of Service Learning are:
- To enhance classroom learning
- To provide direct service that benefits the community
- To promote service, citizenship, and a sense of caring for others
As an agency supervising Loyola students in a Service Learning pretext, you will ensure that these students are provided with:
- Orientation, training, and supervision
- A description of the skills needed to complete the assigned project
- A clear description of the assigned Service Learning project including expectations, requirements, and responsibilities
The Loyola Service Learning Office will ensure that your agency is provided with:
- Orientation for agency supervisors regarding student needs and capabilities
- Student candidates for Service Learning placements
In order for the Loyola Service Learning Office to place students in your agency, you must be able to answer yes to all of the following questions (please check):
_________ The Service Learning student is not an employee of my agency/organization.
_________ The service provided will directly benefit our community.
_________ The experience will help the student better understand the needs of our community and how he/she can help make a difference.
_________ The service provided will contribute to the student's personal and professional development (i.e., the service will be meaningful and challenging).
_________ The agency/organization will provide a safe working environment, orientation, and ongoing support to the student.
I have reviewed the information provided on this form and the Service Learning web site and am confident that the service experience our agency will provide is in line with the goals of Service Learning.
The contact person for this agency is_________________
title ___________________,
phone number is________________,
and email address is __________________.The name of the agency/organization is__________________________
__________________/ __________________
Agency Supervisor/ Signature Date
