Course Designations
Instructors may designate their courses using the methods described below:
UTRGV requires that officially designated courses meet defined criteria in course design. However, course content, readings, and activities remain at the sole discretion of the faculty member teaching the course. These criteria are based on nationally recognized standards and have been established to enable the institution to document and assess
Application Procedures
- Complete Service Learning Designation form available here.
- Engaged Scholarship & Learning (ES&L) in coordination with the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) will review the submission.
- The instructor will be notified by email of approval or suggested revisions. In the case of revisions, the CTE will be available to assist the instructor with aligning the proposed service activities with the definition and core components.
- Once approved, ES&L will request the course section be designated in Banner/Assist as Service Learning (SL).
- Faculty with an approved SL course will need to ensure students submit liability release forms in a timely fashion and track student service by using the Engagement Zone platform. Assistance in both of these areas and other areas related to designing and implementing a service learning course is available with ES&L and CTE.
Continuation Procedures
For all approved SL designated courses, ES&L will contact the instructors via email to inquire if they will be teaching the course again with service learning. ES&L will assist faculty with course setup on Engagement Zone and will be available by request for class presentations on service learning and Engagement Zone.
No additional review or approval is needed. Three years after the course has been designated as Service Learning (SL), the instructor must complete the Renewal Procedures described below.
Renewal Procedures
- Complete Service Learning Designation form (coming soon!).
- Engaged Scholarship & Learning (ES&L) in coordination with the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) will review the submission.
- The instructor will be notified by email of approval or suggested revisions. In the case of revisions, the CTE will be available to assist the instructor with aligning the proposed service activities with the definition and core components.
- Once approved, ES&L will request the course section be designated in Banner/Assist as Service Learning (SL).
- Faculty with an approved SL course will need to ensure students submit liability release forms in a timely fashion and track student service by using the Engagement Zone platform. Assistance in both of these areas and other areas related to designing and implementing a service learning course is available with ES&L and CTE.
Questions
Have specific questions about the Service Learning Course Designation not listed here? Contact us at engaged@utrgv.edu.
The University Curriculum Committee reviews and approves new courses and changes to existing courses. All internship courses must be appropriately labeled as either “Internship” or “Practicum” within the University Course Inventory. For instructions on submitting a new course or changing an existing course, please contact the Office of the Deputy Provost or visit UCentral's Faculty and Staff Resource page.
For a list of currently designated internship courses, click here.
More information coming soon!