Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting Community Work

• What expectations do you have for your placement? Are these reasonable?


• What are you looking to learn about at your organization or from the people you'll be working with? Share this with your supervisor so he or she can help you fulfill your learning goals.


• What do you think you will be doing and what impact do you think will you have? How likely do you think this will be given the amount of time you will be spending at the organization?


• What preconceptions do you have about the population or neighborhood in which you will be working? How have these preconceptions been formed?


• Do you know how your service-learning performance will be evaluated and graded?


• Are there any special accommodations necessary to assist you in your service-learning effort? If yes, have you informed your professor or site supervisor of this need? Students registered with Disability Services at the University of Minnesota, requiring accommodations at the service-learning site should contact their Disability Specialist to discuss appropriate accommodations.