Community Partner Resources

Each community partner is viewed as a co-educator and must be willing to integrate learning into each service opportunity. 
Follow these steps to get connected with FGCU today:

Step 1:  Complete and return the Letter of Engagement.

Step 2:  Apply to be added to the FGCU Community Partner Database used by students, staff, and faculty. 
                Is your organization already in the database?  Check by viewing the Agency List.

Step 3:  Submit service-learning opportunities as frequently as you have them by using this form.
               Once processed, your opportunities are posted on Eagle Link for students to see.

 

NOTE:  When engaging with FGCU students, reflection is a vital piece of the service-learning process.  This helpful document outlines some tips and tricks regarding effective on-site reflection.  Be sure to review the About Us page to learn about the learning frameworks from which we operate and think about how your work connects.  

Questions?  Contact Justin Fitzgerald, Director of Community Engagement, at jfitzgerald@fgcu.edu. 

Just like the rest of us, FGCU students are busy!  However, they are always seeking great experiences in the community.  Here are the two best ways to connect your needs to their availability.  

Community Partner Database

Once you have signed and returned the Letter of Engagement, you are encouraged to complete this form to add your nonprofit or government agency to the database used across campus by students, faculty, and staff.  Before adding your organization, please look here to see if your organization is already in the database.  If your page simply needs updated, please email servicelearning@fgcu.edu.

Specific Requests

If you have a specific service-learning request (one-time or recurring), please submit it here.  This form allows you to connect with students and/or faculty.  Once the form is submitted, your request is added to our service opportunities database for all to see.  We also target market the opportunity across campus to the most appropriate audiences.  You will also notice that Sustainable Development Goals and career readiness skills are highlighted within each service-learning opportunity.

Feel free to complete this form for each unique request you have.  Example requests might be a need for tutors each Monday from 1-4pm or a need for volunteers to help with an annual fundraiser this Saturday from 5-10pm.  Many times, these limited timeframe opportunities are perfect ways for students to get a taste of what your organization does and may lead to more regular FGCU engagement later on.

Service-Learning Events

To learn more and explore participation in a future event below, please contact Justin Fitzgerald at jfitzgerald@fgcu.edu. 

Service-Learning Fairs

Taking place within the first month of fall and spring semesters, our Service-Learning Fairs are opportunities for nonprofits and government agencies to connect with FGCU students regarding service-learning opportunities.  The frameworks from which our office operates (found under the About Us section) are deeply integrated into this event as community partners are categorized by Sustainable Development Goals and career readiness skills are highlighted within the service-learning opportunities.  Since COVID-19, this event has successfully taken place virtually with over 1,000 views.  The Fall 2020 event can be seen here.     

Days of Service

Week of Welcome (WOW) Day of Service

WOW Day of Service introduces first-year students to FGCU’s cornerstone value of community engagement while helping them quickly connect to the local community and each other in meaningful ways.  The day begins with a short kickoff followed by several hours of impactful work for approximately 100 students serving at 10 nonprofit and government agency sites across the region.

Make A Difference Day (MADD)

Aligned with the national Make A Difference Day, this annual FGCU tradition sends approximately 200 students out to serve and learn at a variety of nonprofits and government agencies.  The day begins with a short kickoff followed by several hours of impactful work for approximately 200 students serving at 20 nonprofit and government agency sites across the region.  

Because FGCU has a service-learning requirement, it is vital to our students’ success that community partners verify all completed service-learning hours by clicking the link received via email as soon as possible.  The official FGCU process for documenting service-learning hours is entirely electronic.  An overview of the student process service-learning written guide.  Once a student completes Step 2, you will receive an FYI email that a student wants to partner with you.

Regarding class assignments, students and faculty alike are strongly encouraged to practice objective-based service-learning.  In short, this means students should develop a relationship with you to set shared objectives and a timeline that works for everyone involved.  Students and faculty are strongly discouraged from ever working from a set number of hours they need to complete.  The focus should be the agreed upon project, the learning, and the service, not the number of hours.  

There are Four Types of Service: 

We encourage our community partners to call or email with any questions or concerns as they arise.  However, we also offer community partner workshops once a semester.  We provide resources, guidance, best practices, training, and much more during these meetings.  

Future Workshops

To learn more and RSVP for future workshops, please email Justin Fitzgerald at jfitzgerald@fgcu.edu. 

Past Workshops 

View our Youtube playlist here.