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Student Information

CONTACT, HOURS & APPOINTMENTS

 

Congratulations to the Recipients of the 2024 MiraCosta Presidential Service Award & MiraCosta Volunteer Service Award!

This year 27 students earned the Presidential Service Award (100+ volunteer hours) and 25 students earned the Volunteer Service Award (50+ volunteer hours). Collectively, those students served 6,048 volunteer hours!

Additionally, congratulations to all the MiraCosta students who participated in the Service Learning and Volunteer Program throughout the 2023-2024 school year!  Despite the many challenges this year, students found the time to give back to their campus and community. 

MiraCosta students completed 4816.5 service learning hours and 7019.4 volunteer hours from Summer 2023 through Spring 2024!

Need help starting your service learning assignment?

Did your professor assign a service learning assignment in your class? MiraCosta students are encouraged to contact the Service Learning & Volunteer Center for support! To set up a zoom or in-person meeting, contact us at servicelearning@miracosta.edu or 760.795.6616.

Frequently Asked Questions for Students

How does service learning work?
Each semester certain courses offer a service learning component. The guidelines for the service project are determined by the course instructor. This includes the length of service, the types of placements, and the reflection activities. Students are placed in non-profit organizations and public schools where they engage in activities that are connected to classroom learning. Students benefit through hands-on experiences while the community benefits from student support. 
How do I know which courses offer a service component?
We currently do not have a formal list of courses offering service learning. However, if a student is enrolled in a course that does not offer service learning, we encourage the student to communicate with the class professor to see if they would be willing to offer service learning as an extra credit assignment or in a future course. Students are welcome to visit our "Service Learning Courses" webpage to view a list of courses that have offered service learning in the past. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Volunteer Program! Any student can participate in the Volunteer Program. To learn about the program, visit the "Volunteer Program" webpage or contact our center.
What types of service opportunities are available?
There are numerous activities available! We have service opportunities related to education, environment, social work, etc. Students can choose pre-approved organizations that best fit the learning objectives of their course. To view a list of available community partners, visit the "Community Partner" webpage. 
What are the benefits of service learning?

Students can discover connections between classroom and community, learn through applied experiences, explore career choices, earn hours that can be used towards scholarships, learn skills that can be applied in their future career, increase their cultural capital & social capital, add service experience to a resume, network with local leaders and become more actively involved in the community.

According to the CSUSM website, "80% of [their] alumni stay in their local community." What better way to prepare for your future career, than to volunteer in your community!

How does the service learning program differ from the volunteer program?

Service learning is a teaching method that incorporates community-based activities into the curricula. Unlike volunteers, service learning students are required to connect service experiences to course content through reading, writing, and dialogue.

Students interested in the Volunteer Program, are encouraged to visit the "Volunteer Program" webpage to learn more about the program, download a volunteer booklet, and read about the service awards. Any student can participate in the volunteer program and can complete their service hours virtually or in person with any organization.

Can students with busy schedules participate in service learning?
Most students have busy schedules with work, school, family, and other obligations. Even so, there are opportunities to serve. Many organizations offer remote opportunities, evening volunteer opportunities, and weekend volunteer opportunities, which allows for more flexibility and accessibility for students. If students need assistance getting connected to a community partner, contact servicelearning@miracosta.edu
How do I learn more about the service learning program?
To learn about the program visit the "About Service Learning" page on our website, www.miracosta.edu/serve. You can also email us at servicelearning@miracosta.edu or call us at 760.795.6616. Our staff are happy to assist students with their questions, service projects, and getting connected to a community partner!
Check out our Service Learning Orientation Videos!

To learn more about the Service Learning Program, benefits of service learning, how to complete the service learning paperwork, and more...watch the videos below!

Service Learning Orientation Video 1

Service Learning Orientation Video 2...coming soon!

What are some ideas for service learning projects?
To review a list of ideas, CLICK HERE
I completed at least 15 service learning hours. When will I receive my certificate of service learning?
All certificates are processed at the end of the semester. Student should expect to receive their service learning certificate in the mail, 4-6 weeks after the end of the semester. Students who complete at least 15 hours for one organization, for one class, will receive a certificate of service learning participation.

Students should ensure that their mailing address is up to date on their SURF account. All service learning agreement forms and timesheets must be submitted to our center for us to process a certificate. If students are having difficulties getting hours signed, please call or email the Service Learning & Volunteer Center prior to the deadline set by your instructor.
How do I get a copy of all of my service hours to apply for a scholarship, transfer application, or employment.
Send an email to servicelearning@miracosta.edu  with your SURF ID, first and last name to request a service history report/timecard. Student service history reports are typically emailed. Please allow 3-5 business days for your service history report to arrive via email.
I was planning to apply for the Volunteer Service Award (50-99 hours) or MiraCosta Presidential Service Award (100+ hours) volunteer certificate. When will these awards be processed?
We process volunteer awards during the spring semester. All students hoping to receive the volunteer awards are encouraged to submit their volunteer hours by April 15th (this deadline is to ensure we have sufficient time to process awards). Award recipients will be recognized during our End of the Year Celebration. For those who are unable to attend the celebration, volunteer awards will be mailed to the recipient's address registered on their SURF account.
I am interested in the Student Advocate position (student worker in the Service Learning & Volunteer Center). How can I apply?
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. However, if you are interested in applying for the position next year, please email us at servicelearning@miracosta.edu.