1. VOLUNTEER & SERVICE-LEARNING CENTER
Cleveland Hall 306

2. WHAT IS SERVICE-LEARNING?
A form of active learning that links learning in the classroom with activities that students participate in to address the needs of the surrounding community.
Last year 1,705 students completed 34,953 hours of service through 96 service-learning courses

3. BENEFITS OF SERVICE-LEARNING FOR STUDENTS
Develop and improve skills
Meet new people
Improve your resume
Explore professional fields
Make a difference!

4. NOTICE ANYTHING? TEN TOP SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT Leadership
National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2016
Leadership
Ability to work in a team
Written communication skills
Problem-solving skills
Verbal communication skills
Strong work ethic
Initiative
Analytical skills
Flexibility
Technical skills
BUFFALO STATE STUDENT REPORTED BENEFITS OF SERVICE-LEARNING
* Self-confidence
* Working as part of a team
* Communication skills
* Problem-solving skills
* Public speaking skills
* Research skills
* Critical thinking skills
* Analytical skills
* Real world experience
* Computer skills

5. STUDENT FEEDBACK
78% would encourage other students to try service-learning
83% learn course content best when connections are made to real life
93% felt they learn from people who are different from them
88% felt they could make a difference in the community

6. BUFFALO’S ASSETS
Rated #1 on Forbes’ “America’s Most Affordable Cities”
Buildings designed by over 100 American architects, including H.H. Richardson, Louis Sullivan, E.B. Green & Frank Lloyd Wright
Buffalo Park System designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead
21 institutions of higher education in the metro-region
2,000 refugees and immigrants resettle in Buffalo every year
H.H. Richardson- designed the former Buffalo State Hospital (now Buffalo Psychiatric Center) across from campus.
Louis Sullivan- designed the Guaranty Building downtown
E.B. Green- designed the Marcy Casino in Delaware Park & ten grand homes on Delaware Ave
Frank Lloyd Wright- designed Graycliff, Darwin Martin House, and Larkin Company Administration Building
The Park System included parks (such as Delaware Park) and parkways (Lincoln Parkway, etc). Fredrick Law Olmstead also designed Central Park in New York City, as well as parks in Paris, France and Washington D.C.

7. BUFFALO’S ASSETS Over 80 community gardens
Garden Walk Buffalo is the largest garden tour in America
Buffalo is home to over 50 art galleries and 22 professional theaters
Shakespeare in Delaware Park is the second largest outdoor Shakespeare festival in the country
Hosts the third oldest zoo in the US
Community gardens are overseen by Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo, a non-profit, that helps block clubs and residents secure and lease vacant land from the city where they plan to place the garden
Garden Walk Buffalo was established in 1995 and over 60,000 people visit the gardens each year.

8. BUFFALO’S CHALLENGES 4th poorest large city in the US
26% of families live in poverty
3rd most abandoned houses
Buffalo’s vacancy rate is triple the rest of Erie County (15.7%)
Information taken from Partnership for the Public Good

9. BUFFALO’S CHALLENGES
2,000 people are homeless on any given night in Buffalo.
57% of Buffalo’s children (under age 5) live in poverty.
1/3 of the adult population in Buffalo live below the poverty line.
Buffalo-Niagara region is the 8th most segregated in US
The homeless number refers to individuals who are staying in shelters and on the street
Data taken from: Homeless Alliance of WNY; Partnership for the Public Good

10. NEW ARRIVALS ON THE WESTSIDE
24% of all refugees that come into NYS settle in Buffalo
Each year 1,600-2,000 refugees are resettled in Buffalo
The Westside is the most diverse neighborhood, with over 70 spoken languages
Countries of origin include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Ghana, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Thailand
The Westside is attractive due to abundant, low-cost housing, and easy access to public transportation

11. BUFFALO’S YOUTH
42% of youth (ages 5-18) in the city of Buffalo live in poverty
Poor children are twice as likely to have repeated a grade, to have been expelled or suspended, or to have dropped out of high school
The high school graduation rate for the city is 61%
Without a high school diploma, a young person is twice as likely to be unemployed

12. YOUR SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Community Partner Organizations Say That Service-Learning Students Help Them To….
100% Increase the number of clients served
100% Incorporate new ideas
98% Better meet community needs
98% Increase services offered
96% Increase mentoring services
98% Make new connections

13. GETTING STARTED
EXPECTATIONS
When calling your contact or arriving at the site for the first time:
Introduce yourself
Identify the reason you are calling (or are present)
Identify the service-learning course and professor
Indicate how many hours you are required to complete for the course
Know the course’s objective for your service-learning

14. Address issues promptly (with supervisor, faculty, VSLC staff)
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU
Be prompt and positive at the organization
Be open to learning about cultures and lifestyles that are different than your own
Be respectful
Communicate with your supervisor if you are unable to make your scheduled time
Address issues promptly (with supervisor, faculty, VSLC staff)
Remember, you are representing SUNY Buffalo State

15. HOW DO I GET THERE? Public Transportation www.NFTA.com Carpool
EXPECTATIONS
Public Transportation
Carpool
Personal Transportation -
directions and contact information for your service-learning site.

16. SERVICE LOG Keep an accurate record of your service hours
Have the community agency or staff verify your hours and sign your service log
Sign and return to your professor
If the professor is requiring that the students track their hours, the use of a service log can be very helpful. Many organizations have adopted this form or something similar so speak with your contact at the organization about their policies as well.

17. SAFETY REMINDERS Familiarize yourself with the new area ahead of time
Travel with a buddy
Carry only what you need
Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return
Always lock your doors and leave a light on
Park or walk in well-lit areas
Never leave valuables in plain sight
If you become a victim of a crime call 911 (on-campus call )
It’s important to always keep in mind safety while on campus, at home, or in the community.

18. To Find Service-Learning Designated Courses:
Designated Service-Learning courses can be found in Banner.
To find a service-learning designated course when scheduling courses for the next semester, choose one of the three choices under the “Instructional Method” tab.
To know if a course includes service-learning, click on and read the description of the course.
To Know if a Course includes Service-Learning:

19. OTHER VSLC OPPORTUNITIES
Bengals Dare to Care Day (September 17, 2016)
Volunteer Fair (September 28, 2016)
Alternative Winter Break (December 16-22, 2016)
There are other ways to get involved with VSLC programming both on and off campus!