General Guidelines

While the guidelines of your specific service-learning project will be outlined in your course by your instructor, below are the guidelines all JCCC students completing service learning must abide by. Make sure to read the following guidelines before beginning your service.

1. Your service must be done at a nonprofit or government agency.

2. You may not select projects at community sites where you are already employed; nor should you choose sites where you would report to family members.

3. JCCC Service-Learning students are not permitted to do independent, unsupervised projects for individuals in their homes.

4. You are expected to adhere to the JCCC Student Code of Conduct while completing service-learning assignments at community sites and remember that you are a representative of the college.

5. You are not allowed to plan activities with service recipients beyond the assigned tasks, location and supervision of your chosen community agency or organization for the duration of your service project.

6. You may not transport service recipients in your own vehicle. Although discouraged by the JCCC Service-Learning program, any driving for an agency should be done using agency vehicles.

7.  Maintain the confidentiality of the people you meet during your service-learning project.

8. Papers written in the course of class assignments are not to be published or used outside the campus community, so as not to infringe upon “human subject research” restrictions and guidelines as described/defined/articulated institutionally or federally. To take photographs or videos, you must have written permission by all subjects or their guardians, and by the agency.

The restrictions listed above are intended to protect you, as a volunteer, from some potential risks involving injury to you or your liability in injury to others, accusations of misconduct, impropriety or dishonesty which might be difficult to prove or disprove in the absence of supervisors or co-workers.

If you have specific questions or problems, contact your instructor or email Melissa Nolan .

Safety Guidelines

It is important to honor these safety tips when you are serving/volunteering:

1. If volunteering in person, make sure to check the nonprofit’s website or ask the volunteer coordinator what requirements they have regarding Covid-19. Only volunteer if you are healthy and feel safe.

2. A good way to start a volunteering position is to first attend their volunteer orientation, if one is offered. During these sessions you will often review specific safety and operational protocols, meet agency staff, and receive a tour. Most organizations will require you to attend an orientation.

3. Communicate to your emergency contact where and when you will be doing your service hours.

4. Always wear appropriate clothing and shoes.

5. Never provide your personal information to, or accept a ride from clients at your site; do not give rides or any outside support to clients or staff at the community agency site.

6. When leaving the site after dark, always walk with a buddy and advise the site you are leaving.

7. Consider going with someone to your site and volunteering together.
Provide emergency contact information to the community site.

8. If you ride the bus or drive a vehicle to the site, ask an agency staff member to walk you to the bus stop or your car.

9. Be vigilant and always aware of your surroundings.

10. If you feel unsafe and unsure about your environment alert the agency immediately and seek assistance. Have their phone number in your cell phone and carry it with you.

11. Promptly report to the agency and to JCCC security and Melissa Nolan, any injury, accident or incident that you are involved in while participating in your service learning project. In the event you do not feel comfortable reporting to the agency, contact your instructor and/or Melissa Nolan to assist you.

12. In the event you do not feel comfortable at your chosen organization once you have begun your hours you should immediately talk with your instructor and choose another site.  If you do not feel comfortable talking with your instructor, contact Melissa Nolan.

For additional information about safety please visit the JCCC Police Department website.

If you have any questions or need assistance specific to service or safety, please contact Melissa Nolan.