Introduction 

As Whitworth University shifts to Whitworth Flex for AY 2020-21, the Dornsife Center is working diligently to ensure that we continue to facilitate community engagement and engaged scholarship – safely and remotely – with students, faculty, and community partners. The Dornsife Center has generated these guidelines to help guide our work and highlight our values and goals.  

 

Principles  

  • Ensure the safety and well-being of all students, staff, faculty and community partners who participate in the wide range of Dornsife Center activities and programs. 
  • Promote and support positive outcomes for community partners and participants. Actively center and defer to community agency in making plans and decisions for fall engagement.  
  • Prioritize and expand opportunities for students to explore opportunities to make a difference through the Pathways for public service in lieu of direct service which may not be possible during COVID-19 
  • Provide clear and consistent public health guidance for students, faculty, and community partners to minimize health risks while maximizing reciprocal benefits of partnership.  

Recommendations for Faculty and Students 

Faculty members whose service-learning courses include direct service are asked to consider alternative types of service-learning: 

Many service-learning courses include an indirect, research-based, or advocacy service-learning project. If your course includes direct service, consider ways in which students might engage in these other types of service-learning. Examples include:  

  • Research, assessment, or evaluation requested by a partner organization 
  • Creating deliverables for a partner organization, such as digital media or social media content, print materials, or other information-sharing products 
  • Creating virtual educational materials such as webinars or streaming a presentation or performance 
  • Explore ways in which direct service could be offered virtually, such as offering services via video conferencing platforms or engaging in virtual service opportunities. 
  • Consider opportunities to reflect on COVID-19, global health, the impact of pandemics on communities, and ways that community members can support one another while remaining socially distant. For reflection prompt ideas consider these alternatives. 

Recommendations for Nonprofit Community Partners 

We understand that changes to the university’s instructional delivery method and policy for student community engagement impacts you, and we apologize for any inconveniences caused by changes to instructional delivery. Nonprofit community partners are asked to consider ways to continue to engage with our students in remote or contactless service, and we expect all nonprofit community partners to have COVID-19 related safety policies and procedures in place for volunteers. 

  • Develop COVD-19 related safety policies and procedures for volunteers. 
  • Continue to list your service experiences on Whitworth Serves with an emphasis on remote or contactless opportunities or outdoor service opportunities. 
  • One way to virtually stay engaged is through Learning Together Spokane   

 

Recommendations for Co-Curricular Programs 

  • Group Service Projects Considerations  

    • Student groups will not engage in off-campus service projects in enclosed areas or provide group transportation to off-campus service sites. 

    • The Dornsife Center will provide support to assist student groups in scheduling group service projects that take place outdoors, as well as in developing indirect, contactless, or remote service opportunities for their members 
    • Any group service projects will follow current guidelines from the CDC and ADH for group size; groups must observe all campus protocols related to face coverings and social distancing