Advancing Student Engagement in Communities:

A Tool Kit for Effective Orientation & Evaluation

FOR STUDENTS:

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As a student beginning work with a community orgaization can be an exciting but also daunting experience. The key to effective student-community work is planning.  Use these tool guides to enrichen your community experience. 

Tools in this Section for Students:

Brainstorming for Mutually Beneficial Partnerships

Mutually Beneficial Brainstorm Tool.doc

Identify what your necessities and desires are for working in the community.  When forming a community partnership it is important to remember the terms of the community.  Use this tool guide to discover how your goals and interests can be beneficial to a community organization.  

Understanding the Community

Understanding the Community Tool.doc

Do your research!  Do not be afraid to leave your comfort zone and explore outside the Tufts campus.  Understanding the community will facilitate deeper relationships and will give you confidence in your role.

Getting to Know a Community Organization

Getting to Know a Community Organization Tool.doc

Understanding the framework of your community organization is fundamental to building a successful experience for both yourself and the organization.  Use this tool guide to build an understanding of the organization’s history, mission and needs.  Also take the time to analyze how your own identity influences your perceptions and interactions with the community. 

Contract  – Community Partnership Agreement

Contract Tool.doc

This contract can be used formally between you (the student) and the community co-educator or informally by you as a tool for thinking about your work within the organization.  Understand your responsibilities and the community organization’s expectations at the beginning of your work. 

Establishing a Working Relationship and Expectations with Supervisors

Establishing a Working Relationship and Expectations with Community Co Educator Tool.doc

What is your supervisor expecting of you?  What is the timeline for your project?  Find these questions and more using this toolkit.  The more you establish and know at the beginning of your work, the easier it is to fulfill both your supervisor’s and your own personal goals.  

Your Role in a Community Organization

Your Role with Community Organization Tool.doc

What knowledge, values and skills do you bring to the partnership?  Can you clearly articulate them?   It is also important to understand your identity and what you will inherently bring to the partnership because of your life experiences.

Getting Started and Action Planning Tool

Getting Started and Action Planning Tool.doc

The more time you invest in planning at the beginning of your work, the better you will be in the long term.

Work Plan

Work Plan Tool.doc

Create a short term and long term timeline, with the activities that are involved and your implementation guidelines. 

Volunteer Availability

Volunteer_Availability.doc

This tool can be used for scheduling purposes.

Volunteer Contract

Volunteer_Contract.doc

A contract of commitment to the program.

Volunteer Survey

Volunteer_Survey.doc

An end of the semester survey.

Outreach Application

Outreach_Application.doc

Used to apply to become an outreach member.

Email lincolnfilenecenter@tufts.edu with any questions, comments, suggestions, or additions to the Tool Kit.  Thanks!

 This Tool Kit was designed to compliment the LFC Guide, "Partnering with Communities: A Guide to Getting Involved with Tufts' Partner Communities."  An online version of the guide can be found by clicking here, or a hard copy can be acquired by emailing lincolnfilenecenter@tufts.edu.