Once you have attended an Applied and Service Learning Student Orientation, the next step is to secure an applied and service learning position with a community partner.
Selecting a Community Partner
Selecting the right community partner is an important step to ensuring a positive experience. However, please refer to your course syllabus for specific guidelines. Some instructors will assign a specific community partner where you will only be able to provide assistance. While other instructors may have a list of community partners from which you may choose. Please note that many openings at community partners do fill up quickly and it is in your best interest to start early. However, do not contact community partners until you have attended an Applied and Service Learning Student Orientation and understand the guidelines and expectations of the Applied and Service Learning Program at SMC. Furthermore, some community partners may have additional requirements that potentially take more time to process. Research the community partner before contacting them. Read up on the community partner via the internet and/or any other materials provided by your SMC instructor.
Contacting a Community Partner
Once you have identified a community partner where you may want to provide assistance, it is up to you to initiate contact with the organization and to secure an applied and service learning position. If your SMC instructor provides a list of community partners from which you may choose, it is a good idea to rank them by preference, in the event that your first choice is not a match.
Remember when contacting a community partner, you should always be professional. The community partner is serving you by investing their valuable resources in your learning. Be patient and courteous. First impressions matter. It is also important to set a positive standard for other SMC students to follow as part of the SMC Applied and Service Learning Program.
Helpful Tips When Contacting a Community Partner
Who to Call
If your instructor assigned a specific community partner, it is a good idea to contact the person identified by your instructor. If your instructor did not assign a specific community partner, but instead provided a list of community partners from which you must choose, you should speak with the individual persons identified as contacts. It is best to speak with these identified individuals because they are most familiar with the partnership between SMC’s Applied and Service Learning Program and their organization.
When to Call
It is best to call the contact person during the organization’s normal business hours. If you must leave a message, clearly state your first and last name, a number where they can reach you or leave a message, the best time (morning, afternoon, evening) you can be reached, and the reason for your call. Again, it is important to be professional and patient. Understand that it may take the contact person a couple of days to return your call. You may also follow-up with the contact person via email. It is recommended that you use your SMC student email address and not your personal email.
How to Introduce Yourself
The following is a script you can use to introduce yourself to the contact person via phone and/or email.
Good morning/Good afternoon ___________. My name is __________, and I am enrolled in an applied and service learning course at Santa Monica College. I am interested in assisting at your site because ____________________. Please let me know if your organization has any applied and service learning volunteer opportunities where I might be able to help and learn more about your organization and its services. My phone number is __________ and the best time to reach me at is in the (morning, afternoon, or evening). I look forward to speaking with you and learning more about _____________ (name of the organization).
Once you are able to get in contact with each other, it is a good idea to ask about any time and/or training commitments/requirements, dress code, and what types of activities you might be assigned to complete as an applied and service learning student. If it is a good match for both parties, you and the community partner, the next step is to discuss your schedule, your first day on site and any or all expectations.
Remember when contacting a community partner, you should always be professional. The community partner is serving you by investing their valuable resources in your learning. Be patient and courteous. First impressions matter. It is also important to set a positive standard for other SMC students to follow as part of the SMC Applied and Service Learning Program.