In this section
Students
If you are a current student looking to make a contribution to our community, please connect with the Center for Service in Action.
Service Learning lets you take what you’re learning in the classroom and apply it in the real world. You’ll gain hands-on experience, build career-ready skills, and make a meaningful impact in your community—all while strengthening your academic success.
Student FAQs
Why am I required to volunteer as part of a class?
Service Learning is more than volunteering — it’s part of your academic coursework. The goal is to connect class concepts with real-world experiences so you learn by doing while contributing to the community.
Do I have to find my own service placement?
No — your faculty member and Cal Poly’s Center for Service in Action work with community partners to coordinate projects. You’ll be guided on where and how to get involved.
How much time will I need to commit?
The time varies by course, but most service learning projects are built into class assignments. Expect to spend 1-3 hours per week throughout the term on community engagement activities.
How can my instructor grade my volunteer work?
You aren’t graded on the service itself, but on how you connect the experience to your course learning. This usually happens through reflection assignments, presentations, or projects tied to your academic goals.
Is transportation provided to community sites?
Some sites are accessible by public transportation or carpooling with classmates. Faculty will provide details, and the Center for Service in Action can help with options.
What if I feel like I’m being asked to do meaningless busy work?
Your time commitment to a community organization is usually small — about 1 to 3 hours per week. Since many organizations have limited resources, they must balance the effort of training you with the impact you provide. Even if your tasks seem simple, they often contribute more than you realize. For example, entering data might help an organization secure a grant, or setting up event materials could make a fundraiser possible. Service Learning projects are designed to meet real community needs while connecting directly to your coursework. Take time to learn about the organization’s work and ask questions — this will help you see how your contributions fit into the bigger picture.
Service Learning projects are designed to meet real community needs and connect to your coursework. If you feel the work isn’t meaningful, talk to your instructor—they want to make sure the experience benefits both you and the community partner.
Who do I contact if I have questions or issues during my service project?
Start with your course instructor. You can also reach out to the Center for Service in Action for additional support.
Community-Engaged Learning Courses
Starting Fall 2026, please revisit this space to see a list of courses with a Community-based Learning Component being offered during the upcoming term.
