What's the difference between a service learning project and a service learning placement?

In service learning projects, all the students in a class work together to complete specific tasks for a local nonprofit agency.  Usually, professors choose the agency in advance, so students do not need to choose an agency to work with.  Projects may involve direct service with the agency's clients or indirect service which supports the agency and advances its mission.  Project work may take place off-campus or on-campus or a combination of both.  Generally, there is not a hard-and-fast time requirement with service learning projects, but students may be asked to submit regular progress reports to professors or to agency supervisors.  Professors should work with agency staff and the Office of Service Learning to produce a detailed description of the project.  This description should outline the expectations for all parties (students, agencies, professors), note important deadlines, and contain information about grading.  This should be distributed to students in class.  Project outcomes should be evaluated at the end of the semester by professors and agency staff.

In service learning placements, students volunteer regularly throughout the semester at different agencies.  Students need to be actively involved in choosing a service learning placement.  Professors may allow students to choose from all service learning agencies or from a short list of selected agencies.  Generally, placement work takes place off-campus at a program site and involves hands-on work with agency clients.  Professors are free to decide the time requirements for students' service learning placements, but many agencies prefer volunteers to commit at least 1-2 hours per week.  At the end of the semester, agency supervisors will be asked to assess students' performance using this evaluation.  The results of these evaluations are given to professors to be incorporated into students' class grades.