Connecting Campus to Community - Integrating a Web-based Software Platform to Support Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Presented at 6th International Symposium on Service-Learning, University of Indianapolis, May 28, 2015

1. Integrating a Web-based Software Platform to Support
Service-Learning and Civic Engagement
6th International Symposium on Service-Learning
University of Indianapolis, May 28, 2015
Tim Stewart, Director of Service-Learning
Dr. Bernard Turner, Associate Professor/ Director, Center
for Social Entrepreneurship

2. Underlying Issues
Creating a “stable” of community partners for service-
learning.
Helping students find places to volunteer in the
community.
Helping community partners find volunteers.
Tracking Volunteer Hours.

3. Choosing Software
Received a marketing e-mail from Galaxy Digital,
makers of Get Connected.
Explored the features of the platform and contacted
other higher-ed users for their input (Murray State,
St. Mary’s College California).
Had demo from Galaxy Digital.

4. Enlisting and Training Community
Partners
Sent invitation to network of agencies with whom
we’ve worked in the past.
Invited them to a training hosted by Galaxy Digital.
Ask them to provide Certificate of Insurance and
complete a Memorandum of Understanding.

5. IT Issues
Wanted a single sign-in through our campus intranet.
Wanted student record to include campus ID number
for tracking purposes.
Need to customize certain aspects of the program.

6. A Faculty Perspective
Using Get Connected in the classroom.
SET 2100 Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
 Rationale
 Project overview

7. SET 2100:
Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
Course open to any student on campus.
First required course in social entrepreneurship curriculum. Focus is
entrepreneurship in the social sector.
Course first offered in 2008 with service-learning requirement of 8
hours then increased to 12 hours in 2010 then 16 hours in 2011.
Class is capped at 25; average around 23 students.
Reflective essay required after completion of service-learning
hours.
Service-learning component (hours and reflection) account for
approximately 20 percent of overall course grade.
Community partners are local nonprofit organizations.
243 students provided 3566.1 service-learning hours worth
$78,561.84.

8. Faculty Perspective
What works/needs improvement?
Works
Central database of approved community partners.
Accuracy and verification of service-learning hours
completed by students.
Needs Improvement
Continued education on Get Connected not only for
faculty but also students.

9. Faculty Perspective: Comparison
Old System New System
Professor identifies S-L sites.
Students can identify other
S-L sites.
Hours reported by S-L sites
via email to professor.
Paper, paper, paper.
Professor or Program
Assistant contacts S-L sites
when hours not reported.
S-L sites in database.
Students have more diversity
in identifying other sites.
Database allows S-L sites to
approve hours.
Paperless process.
No follow-up needed by
Professor or Program
Assistant.

10. Brief Overview
http://getconnected.belmont.edu

11. Brief Overview

12. Brief Overview

13. Brief Overview

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15. Brief Overview

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17. Brief Overview

18. Questions / Comments?
Tim Stewart
Director of Service-Learning
tim.stewart@belmont.edu
Dr. Bernard Turner
Associate Professor / Director, Center for Social
Entrepreneurship
bernard.turner@belmont.edu