Project Management in Service-Learning
As community partners overseeing a service-learning project, you essentially assume the role of project management. A project manager coordinates a team in planning, executing and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed on schedule and within scope and available resources.
Planning:
You serve as your organization’s voice and represent organizational goals, needs, and limitations. Your voice is critically important during the planning stages. The Service-Learning Program deeply values reciprocity; we want your organization to gain value from these service-learning projects.
Executing and Overseeing:
As the project manager, you guide service-learning students in their efforts to complete the project. Although service-learning students are not employees but not quite volunteers, you should feel empowered to require high-quality work and results.
Completed on Schedule:
All service-learning projects have a clear end date (the end of the semester). Keep the semester timeline in mind while your project develops. Students often rely on you to keep the project on track. Although keeping track of holidays, deadlines, and hour requirements is the students responsibility, not doing so may derail the project or result in students putting extra pressure on you as the semester comes to a close. Communication is key.
Within Scope and Available Resources:
The Service-Learning Program, the instructor, and the students will defer to your unique perspective in determining whether the project is within the desired scope and available resources. If for some reason your project needs to be rescoped, recalibrated, or redesigned, the Service-Learning Program will be happy to support you in getting things back on track!
Although the some of the terminology and processes may feel unfamiliar, project management skills will provide you with additional tools to effectively guide students, complete tasks, and reach your goals. Below, you will find some project management resources to broaden your skillset. For more resources on leading students, please review our Leadership Resources page.
