The Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE) has six signature programs providing high quality and meaningful public service, leadership development, and civic engagement opportunities for SF State students across the university. Whether students are interested in long-term internships or one-day volunteering opportunities, ICCE offers Community Service-Learning (CSL) opportunities that help with coordination of service-learning courses and university approved community partners. Below is an update of CSL opportunities, faculty CSL and scholarship spotlights, ICCE’s signature programs, and new highlights across campus.

Content:

The opportunity to serve as faculty director of ICCE remains an honor to follow Dr. Jerry Eisman (now emeritus), and build on the remarkable feats that he has attained. ICCE continues to support scores of projects on integrative learning, promote student well-being, sustain community partnerships, and stimulate civic dialogues. We’ve showcased programmatic creation, pedagogical innovation, engaged research and scholarship, and thought leadership across campus. Our operation is a prototype of experiential, transformative education whereby all students can flourish intellectually, socially, personally and develop their aptitude for meaningful work and democratic citizenry. ICCE is constantly evolving and responding to new issues and critical challenges. Our commitment to civic engagement has increasingly foregrounded issues of equity and inclusion for both underserved students and communities as well as those with greater fortune; our ventures know no boundaries. Our vision and efforts have grown and will continue to expand. ICCE’s commitment to integrative thinking and innovative action is compelling; and, we look forward to supporting you as best as possible! (Read more)

Dr. Jae Paik provides International Service Learning Experience in China 

By Jissel Poblete

Since 2017, the Department of Psychology has been providing an exciting international service learning program for their students. Under the leadership of Dr. Jae H. Paik, Assistant Professor, each summer a cohort of 14 undergraduates travel to Sichuan Province, China. They engage in various educational and psychological field services for local children, family, and teachers including transformative experiences for all involved. Prior to their trip, students complete a semester-long course; they learn to work as a team to deliver curricular and extracurricular activities in real-world service settings. For example, they teach in pre-K to 12 classrooms, mentor younger students, offer family cultural events, and conduct observational assessment of students.  (Read more)

Faculty Development Workshop on Critical Reflection in Service Learning

A Critical Reflection workshop was scheduled with 10 faculty members from various departments on Nov. 16th. Due to campus closure before the break, this was rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 30th and six faculty enjoyed a couple of hours instead. We connected academic theories and models to creating reflection assignments for service learning opportunities. Critical reflection provides students with the opportunity to examine their beliefs, values, opinions, and attitudes. It involves observation, asking essential questions, and weaving facts, ideas, and experiences together to develop new knowledge and deeper meaning about what and who they’re involved with. This workshop was a great overview for providing examples and sharing resources and new ideas. Don’t forget to ask: What? So What? Now What!? More workshops to come in 2019!

Placement Sites & Course Designation

For inquiries regarding the information below, please contact Glendie Domingo-Lipar, Community Partnerships Coordinator, at [email protected] .

CSL Faculty

ICCE is ready to support you with your CSL course. Whether you have a designated or non-designated service-learning course, our staff aim to provide you with the resources to support your efforts in providing these high impact opportunities to your students. Please advise us on the following:

CSL Students

Please go to https://sfstateulink.org/#/ to find out more information about the organizations and opportunities they offer.

ICCE is proud to introduce Isela Rivas, Administrative Support Coordinator for Academic Internships. Isela will play an integral role in risk management for academic internships.

The spring 2019 Academic Internship timeline is posted on our website! For more information regarding student/faculty academic internship dates, timeline, and requirements, visit our website. 

If you are interested in more information about the academic internship process and planning, please contact Eunice H. Kim, Academic Internship Program Coordinator at [email protected]. 

Prioritizing Reflection

by Janet Lopez

My experience with service learning has genuinely been an asset to my growth as a student, professional and holistically as a person. The readings we have done in regards to service learning emphasize the notion that not every experience is necessarily a learning moment that adds to one’s development but rather it is the reflection that is key to facilitating that process, and I wholeheartedly agree. The challenges-whether big or small- that came with being successful at my site has created opportunities and even moments to reflect on what my skills are, where I need and want to grow, how I engage with others around me, how I hold myself accountable, and so much more. These opportunities of reflection that have lead to insight on myself were informal in their nature but impossible to dismiss. I am learning to embrace growth, transparency, and honesty with others and myself as I have noticed these have been the characteristics I’ve had to prioritize in order to reflect in a way that nurtures the desire to keep trying and to keep learning. (Read More)

Adaptive Teamwork

by Rachel Hanley

The concepts of partnership and collaboration seem like common knowledge, but I think that many simplify the meaning of these words. A partnership is not just two people working together to accomplish a goal, there are many nuances. Those involved can range from individuals to corporations, and the work starts long before any physical work begins. Finding others to partner with that will align well together, defining boundaries and goals, and brainstorming ways to reach these goals are all part of the process. The partnership also implies that everyone involved is benefiting in a meaningful way- a mutual relationship. Having not taken a service-learning course, I haven’t had a more structured experience with partnerships, but this year working with Free Food Stand in San Francisco’s Mission district has been an insight into effective collaboration.  (Read More)

Creating Partnership

by Alejandra Santos

In the book, "Service-Learning Essentials," the author Jacoby defines partnerships as differentiated from other types of institutional relationships since they are beneficial to all parties. Truly reciprocal partnerships are also called collaborations which are well-defined relationships based on a commitment to a definition of mutual goals; a jointly developed structure and shared responsibility. Jacoby points out that there is no specific roadmap or guide for a successful service-learning partnership, but she does mention that there are a few principles and framework to guide our work. For example, stage one emphasizes on developing a partnership based on a shared vision and tangible benefits for all partners. Stage two then explains building collaborative relationships that are based on trust and respect, and well organized and led (pg. 52). Finally stage three focuses on how in order to keep these partnerships over time it must include integration into the mission and systems of the partnering institutions, and strong communication. (pg. 52). (Read More)

What the Tutees and Everyone at Harvey Milk Elementary School Taught Me

by Ocean Noah

This is the last reflection I will be writing for America Reads. I will sincerely miss the teacher I work with, who has inspired me so much, and the students that make me smile. Since I am a Creative Writing major, I will write a humorous and heartfelt list of the things I learned this year (Read More):

 

For more student reflections visit our website or follow our story at #iconnectSFSU on all our social media platforms. If you are interested in more information about ICCE programs, please contact Jose R. Lopez at   [email protected].

Save the Date!

Spring 2019 Internship &

Service-Learning Fair

ICCE is having our bi-annual Internship & Service-Learning Fair on Tues., Feb. 5 & Wed., Feb. 6, 2019 from 10am-1pm at the Cesar Chavez Student Center Plaza Level. All are invited to meet our community partners and explore the opportunities they offer. Students interested in areas such as education, social work, recreation, health, youth development, and many other fields, are recommended to attend. Our partners are ready to talk about the work they do in the community and how SF State can contribute!

79 New Community/Industry Partners!

ICCE is committed to expanding our partnerships in the Bay Area and surrounding communities. Our efforts to address community-defined needs are rooted in our mission and deeply ingrained in what we do. ICCE has also expanded our list of partners to include for-profit entities, which are learning sites for our academic internships. This past summer, 79 new community partners have joined our list:

The CSU's commitment to increasing access to service-learning courses, particularly for students from historically underserved communities, supports campus efforts to achieve the Graduation Initiative 2025 goals of closing equity gaps and improving completion rates.

The Center's list of accomplishments includes:

Read more at about the 20 Years of Impact here.

Institute for Civic & Community Engagement (ICCE)

Email:  [email protected] - Phone:  415-338-6419  - Fax:  415-338-0587