Service and Justice in the Classroom
New Safety Guidelines for the College for Professional Studies
Attention Regis CPS Faculty,
Due to the potential liability of including community activities into our courses, CPS has devised a plan to ensure that we are taking care of students, faculty and the institution. This plan, adapted from the original Guidelines put forth by the Office of Academic Affairs (04-06-05), streamlines the multiplicity of steps and makes the Guidelines more accessible for the CPS environment.
Regis realizes that the heart of any university relies on faculty expertise and commitment. Therefore, we acknowledge that in order for this plan to be effective, it will be important to have your assistance in achieving this goal. The intention is not to put up impossible barriers to doing activities that involve the community, but rather to support learning in a safe and effective way.
This email is an important reminder that all Service-learning, Community-Based Learning, Community-Based Research, Advocacy, Field Trips and Off-Site Community Interviews must use the following form attached to this email. Be aware that this applies to classroom-based, online and GIS courses. (See the end of this message for specific examples.)**
For Classroom-Based Courses:
If students are involved with a community agency either in the classroom or off-site, please have students complete the PDF, Personal Safety and Property Disclosure Release Form. The Student Service Desk will have extra copies of the form and will be happy to make copies for you, if needed. Hand in the completed forms to the CPS Student Service Desk at your respective campus.
For Online Courses:
If students are involved with a community activities either off-site or remotely, please email students the Personal Safety and Property Disclosure Release Form - and request that they sign date and fax it to 303-964-5478. You can also access this form on your online course Discussion Forum. (If you are unable to find the Personal Safety and Property Disclosure Release form, please call 303-458-4248.)
For GIS Courses:
If students would like to do a tangible project involving a community agency for a GIS course, there are many possibilities. Please have them contact Amy Sheber Howard at asheberh@regis.edu or Carol Ann Kelly at ckelly003@regis.edu to find a match for their interests and skill set. If students are involved with a community activity either off-site or online, please email the Personal Safety and Property Disclosure Release form to students and request that they sign date and fax it to 303-964-5478 or they can hand it in to the CPS Student Service Desk.
Please be aware that all community activities that are done with a community organization are required by Colorado statute to be insured by the Regis University Workers Compensation Program (or by the organization's Worker's Compensation Program.) If there is an incident involving safety, a student must immediately contact Sharon Slade in HR at sslade@regis.edu in order to begin this process.
We will assist this process by making it as convenient as possible to access the forms and through supporting you with email reminders and first night packet assistance. Many thanks for your attention to this. We are currently working on a more user-friendly computer system that will alleviate the paperwork and hassle of these documents in the near future. If you have questions regarding these procedures or the scope, please feel free to contact Amy Sheber Howard, (303-964-5092) or Carol Ann Kelly, (303-458-4248).
What are some examples of service-learning, community-based learning and other community involvement activities?
- As part of the course, students visit a community agency off-site to learn about the agency's mission or to interview someone involved with the organization.
- As part of a course, students attend a local religious service different from their own in order to understand cultural differences.
- As part of the course, students develop a strategic marketing plan for a community agency.
- As part of the course, students construct a database for an agency.
- As part of the course, students perform some service in a community organization outside of class, for example at a shelter, an elderly home, etc.
- As part of a course, students research issues facing women in poverty in Colorado and then write letters to their congress people.
What this does NOT apply to:
- Counseling internships (The Counseling Psychology Program has their own procedures.)
- Student Teaching (Teacher Education has their own procedures.)
- As part of a course, students conduct telephone interviews to learn more about a community organization.
- Any volunteer work that is NOT a part of a course.