Programs OverviewService Learning Projects
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- What is service learning?
- Who can participate?
- How do I participate?
- What qualifies as a service learning project?
- Tuition and enrollment
What is service learning?
By participating in the Projects in Service Learning program, students have the opportunity to volunteer their time and engineering skills for non-profit organizations.
The National and Community Service Act of 1990 defines service learning as: “a method under which students or participants learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community. . . . and that is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students.”
Who can participate?
- All undergraduate students who have completed CRDV301: Introduction to Career Development and who are in good academic standing according to University standards
- All master's-level graduate students
How do I participate?
Before participating in the program, undergraduate students need to complete the CRDV301: Introduction to Career Development course. Master's students should attend a graduate info session. After completing this course, you can work with your career advisor to create a strategy for your service learning search.
Students are responsible for securing their own service learning experience. Here are some resources students may use to create their service learning opportunity:
- Chicago Field Studies Program
- Engage Chicago Program
- Global Engagement Summer Institute
- Northwestern Office of Fellowships
- Summer Internship Grant Program
- AIESEC
Once you have secured a service learning project, you should:
- Make an appointment with your career advisor.
- Present a copy of a letter from the coordinating agency or university to Engineering Career Development which states what your service learning activities and responsibilities will be.
- Acquire a supervisor who can evaluate your contributions to the organization, its clients, or the community.
- Agree to evaluate your experience based on your opportunity to learn and apply various engineering skills.
What qualifies as a service learning project?
A service learning project is:
- A single service learning term that can occur during any quarter of the year.
- Directly related to the student’s academic major and/or career goals.
Service learning projects must fit the following criteria:
- Must be at least 10 weeks long.
- Must be full-time (30 hours or more per week).
- Must be related to your engineering major or career goals.
- Must be completed with a non-profit organization.
- Must be unpaid.
Tuition and Enrollment
Students will be enrolled as a full-time student in the appropriate CRDV course enrollment, with no tuition charges.
An administrative grade of S (satisfactory) will be given at the end of the quarter as long as you have completed all evaluations. If you do not complete all necessary evaluations, you will receive a U (unsatisfactory) grade.
