Service Learning
| Criterion | A 90-100 Excellent Sophisticated |
B 80-89 Good Competent |
C 70-79 Acceptable Adequate |
D 60-69 Unacceptable Inadequate |
F 0-59 Not Yet Competent |
| Hours of Service | 20 or more documented hours | 20 documented hours | 15 to 20 hours | 10-15 hours | Under 10 hours |
| Quality of Service | Seva.* Student arrives at appointed or scheduled time(s) and works diligently. Does not hold back and wait to be assigned work; demonstrates initiative, drive, and leadership in the performance of service. Works well with and for others. Appears to be motivated by the genuine desire to serve others and to contribute to the community. | Seva.* Student arrives at appointed or scheduled time(s) and works hard. Participates and contributes freely and works well with others. Cares about community service. | Student is sometimes late, sometimes unreliable. Just hangs around waiting to be told what to do rather than taking the initiative to find tasks. Works mainly because it is "required." | Student is usually late and unreliable. Holds back from interaction with others and avoids work. Shows negative attitude towards service. Not connected to the utopian principle of selfless service for the good of the community (seva) | Student is usually late and unreliable. Holds back from interaction with others and avoids work. Shows negative attitude towards service. Non-Seva. Just doesn't show up at all. |
| Reliability of Service | Makes service commitments and keeps them. Shows up when and where promised. Notifies professor or agency in advance if circumstances prevent him or her from fulfilling responsibility. | Makes service commitments and keeps them. Shows up when and where promised. Notifies professor or agency in advance if circumstances prevent him or her from fulfilling responsibility. | Sometimes does keep service learning commitments. Oversleeps, late, unengaged. Sometimes misses appointments, meetings, etc. | Student is unreliable. Cannot be depended on to fulfill obligations, responsibilities, or commitments. | Student is unreliable and irresponsible. |
| Reporting of Service | Logs service learning hours weekly, within a day or so of their completion; maintains a careful SL record. | Logs service learning hours weekly and maintains a careful SAL record | Sometimes gets behind in SL record. | SL record reflects lack of serious concern, discipline | Poor or no SL record. Student reflects complete lack of responsibility in reporting hours and service. |
| Service Learning Reflection | Reflects honestly and accurately on service learning experiences, as requested. | Reflects honestly and accurately on service learning experiences, as requested. | SL reflection is superficial. Shows no serious engagement of SL or related utopian principles. | Little or no SL reflection or engagement of related utopian principles | No SL reflection. |
*Seva is selfless service.
The Lama Foundation outside Taos, New Mexico, embraces the concept of seva. The following is their explanation of seva:
Please do not confuse "seva" with "work"! Work implies doing some service or some task in order to receive something in return, such as money. Seva is doing some service as an offering to something outside of one self. With seva, we step outside of the "I'll do this for you if you do that for me" thought process and allow ourselves to do some activity for the simple act of giving. This can be a profound shift of thought.Seva is the spiritual practice of service. After a little while of practicing applying the intention of seva to one's actions, the day may begin to flow with extra grace, or a quality of relaxed enjoyment may accompany what used to feel like boring or "do I HAVE to it?!" tasks. The feeling of cooperation and mutual support overshadows competition. Engaging with seva enters one into a method of exchange beyond the usual money-for-this, money-for-that method of exchange.