4.2 Continued Engagement: References, Background Checks, and Volunteering

Recall in section 1.1 we discussed the experiential learning opportunity you engaged in can be considered on a continuum of issues like time commitment, intensity of effort, required book knowledge for success, the types of project(s) you’ll work on, and the goals of the experience. Depending on the sort of project you are wrapping up (or have wrapped up), it may be worth considering if your community partner may be a potential reference for you in the future. Oftentimes, when we think of moving on to workplaces or graduate programs, we look to our professors and current employers for recommendations. If you worked closely with a partner over the course of a semester, and especially if they were able to implement your recommendations or move forward on a project in part due to your efforts, they may be willing and able to provide a recommendation for you as well. Keep in mind basic kindnesses when you are looking to build a team of recommenders.

Ask your potential recommender if they’d be willing to provide a recommendation for you. If they say yes,

1. Ask them for the best contact information.
2. Ask if there are ways they prefer to provide recommendations (phone, email)
3. Always touch base when you list them as a reference and re-confirm they are still willing to provide a recommendation.
4. Give them two weeks lead time for any sort of written letter of recommendation!
5. Provide adequate information so they can tailor their recommendation accordingly. This could include providing them the cover letter you submitted, the position description, or your updated resume for specific recommendation needs.

If they say no to your request for a recommendation, it could be for any number of reasons. It may be  because they don’t know you and/or your work well enough. This is particularly common with team community engagement assignments. Their organizational policies may limit their ability to provide recommendations. Recognizing their complex relationship to your work will hopefully assure you that there are other folks who are better suited to provide a recommendation or reference.

We don’t expect all community engagement projects to provide a life changing experience, but hopefully they are excellent learning experiences. More often than not, students complete their projects and wrap up the semester and move on to the next, or to their new workplace. It is important — and professional– to communicate gratitude to your community partner for the learning opportunity, especially if they provided feedback, information, or advice throughout the project process. In delivering your final materials, you should be sure to indicate thanks, as well as make clear whether you are willing to work on revisions after the course ends. On some occasions, we’ve learned that students are interested in continuing on with their community partner as a volunteer.

Keep in mind that the learning experience designed by your instructor and community partner was purposefully built so you could complete the project, meet course objectives, and provide insight and support to community partners. Once you are no longer a student in the course, and even if you are enrolled in the course but want to  take on greater responsibilities at the organization, the expectations, professional relationships, and requirements of the community partner may change. For instance, they may require a background check (or a more extensive background check), references, training, and/or a specific time or hour commitment from volunteers. Alternatively, they may not have adequate capacity to support additional volunteers (yes! This happens!) and may refer you to another organization and/or suggest you communicate your interest again at a later date. Regardless, if you plan to take on roles and responsibilities beyond what’s required for your course, we encourage you to let your instructor know, too. Instructors appreciate learning about students’ continued relationships with nonprofit partners.

If you’ve come to the close of your community engagement project, or have just begun, we hope you’ve found this text helpful. In line with what we’ve encouraged– design thinking, usability, and reflection– please know we always appreciate feedback and recommendations. Is there a chapter you wish we’d written? Or insight you gleaned in your experience that could really help future students? Email the lead author at j<dot>phelps<at>wsu<dot>edu.