FSEHD Community Service Requirement

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The FSEHD Community Service Requirement is for students in Initial Teacher Certification Programs.

Community Service

Community service is engagement in direct service through volunteering that benefits and promotes the interests of individuals or the community.  These activities provide opportunities for teacher candidates to broaden their experiences and understandings of individuals, communities and diversity. 

FSEHD Community Service Requirement  

FSEHD initial teacher candidates must complete 25 hours of community service before student teaching. This requirement reflects the belief that a teacher is a professional committed to serve others in the pursuit of learning.  Students must engage in meaningful interactions with students, families, individuals, or communities. 

FSEHD Teacher Candidate Community Service Objectives

Teacher candidates will complete community service hours that: 

  • Build meaningful experiences early on in the program, provide opportunities to explore teacher identity, and positively contribute to schools and the wider communities. 
  • Reflect the mission and vision of the FSEHD:  “Graduates make a significant impact in the lives of Rhode Islanders and beyond. They are highly effective, reflective, engaged, and deeply committed to the values of equity, diversity, and social advocacy.”
  • Promote candidates’ understanding of diversity and mutual respect among all individuals in schools or community organizations.  
     

Information about the FSEHD Community Service Requirement

Community Service Learning in the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development (FSEHD)   began in 1996 with the Alan Shawn Feinstein Endowment. Alan Shawn Feinstein is a renowned educator, journalist, and humanitarian who has dedicated his time, talents, and treasures to bettering the lives of others. The Endowment provided a gift of $1,000,000 to Rhode Island College and called for course work and community service as a mandatory graduation requirement for undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Education. In response, an FSEHD faculty committee, with approval by the Dean's Leadership Committee, enacted a community service requirement of 25 hours to be completed by initial certification teacher candidates one semester prior to student teaching. 

Alan Shawn Feinstein's commitment to the schools in the State of Rhode Island is legendary. He has dedicated millions of dollars to its elementary and secondary schools, and to its colleges and universities, to advance the importance of community service in education and the values of caring, compassion, and brotherhood. 

  • 18 hours are completed in FNED 246, where students perform a minimum of 18 hours of tutoring in a Providence public school. Every semester, upwards of 150 potential teacher candidates work one on one with students to improve their reading and writing.
  • The remaining seven (7) hours can be completed by volunteering in schools and community organizations that promote the values of equity, diversity, and social advocacy, and support those in underrepresented areas or groups (e.g., students of color, students in families experiencing economic hardship, students with disabilities, etc.).  These hours must be completed outside of scheduled class hours. 
  • Examples include
    • One-on-one tutoring, homework help groups, coaching
    • Volunteering at community centers, senior centers, nonprofit organizations, food pantries, etc. 
  • Volunteer hours with religious or political intent can not be counted as FSEHD Community Service hours.   
    • Examples that can count: Sponsored events at a religious organization such as a food pantry,  community meals, or nonpartisan voter registration.
    • Examples that cannot count: Teaching religious education classes or fund raising for a candidate or political party. 
  • School observations, visits, and teaching required in other courses (FNED 101, practicum, etc.) are not considered part of community service. 
  • Obtain a BCI. Most volunteer positions require a BCI (Criminal Background Check).  See FSEHD RI Background Check for more information on obtaining your BCI. 
  • Contact the organizations listed below to learn more about volunteer opportunities and requirements for participation.  
  • Continue to volunteer with Inspiring Minds after completing the required 15 hours in FNED 246.
  • Contact the RIC Career Development Center for additional volunteer opportunities that meet this FSEHD Community Service Learning requirement. 
  • Additional Volunteer Opportunities: There are many volunteer opportunities in RI.  Students can pursue volunteer opportunities not on this list as long as they meet the FSEHD Community Service Learning objectives. Students should check with their academic advisors about these opportunities.

Use this video, Documenting your community service hours on Chalk and Wire, to learn how to document community service hours. A summary of the directions are also provided below:

  • Log into Chalk and Wire (Anthology), and open the Main Menu bar on the left hand side of the Dashboard page.
  • Select Work and then go to Journals. This journal is used to document community service and also your clinical experience hours. 
  • First Time Entry: The first time you log community service hours you will select from the drop down menu: 
    • Step 1 Choose Journal Template: PreServiceHours Log_Clinical&Community_V2022.  
    • Step 2 Name: Name your Journal  Example - LastName_Preservice Hours
    • Step 3 Start New Journal  
    • Step 4 New Journal Entry  
    • Step 5 Complete the Journal. You will select your program and enter your community service hours.  Save when you are finished.
  • Additional Entries: 
  • Log into Chalk and Wire, and go to Work and then Journals. 
  • You will see your PreServiceHours Log_Clinical&Community_V2022 (Template) journal with the name you created (Example: LastName_Preservice Hours)
  • Click on the journal and then Edit and select a new journal entry.  Enter your community service hours and save when you are finished.