The Community Service General Education requirement at the University of La Verne fosters the development of self-reflective, civically engaged leaders and responsive community participants through reciprocal service and learning in LVE 305: Learning through Community Service courses. More information on the LVE 305 student learning outcomes can be found on the Office of Civic and Community Engagement webpage.
The Community Service Alternative Assessment Portfolio provides students with the opportunity to test-out and demonstrate their comprehension of the Community Service General Education requirement at La Verne.
Students are responsible for conveying in their Community Service Alternative Assessment Portfolio how their prior community service experience is an acceptable replacement for the LVE 305: Learning through Community Service course. More information on LVE 305: Learning through Community Service courses can be found on the Office of Civic and Community Engagement webpage.
Prior to submitting the Community Service Alternative Assessment Portfolio, students must review the requirements below and consider their ability to demonstrate an adequate comprehension of the Community Service General Education requirement. Note: The outcome of the portfolio submission may not be contested.
Portfolio Requirements:
- Submit a Reflection Essay: The reflection essay must demonstrate competency in social justice issues related to community service, what it means to be a civically engaged individual, and an understanding of reciprocity as a component of community engagement.
- Submit a verification letter of 20 hours of unpaid community service: Community service is understood to be a minimum of 20 hours of unpaid, active participation assisting a community organization in the achievement of its goals, not simply observing the work of the organization.
- The verification letter must be on an official nonprofit letterhead, the organization’s supervisor needs to write a letter verifying the number of hours you worked. The letter must state in specific detail how you actively assisted the off-campus, nonprofit organization in the achievement of its goals, not simply observing the work of the organization. The letter must include the supervisor’s signature.
- If you are mailing your portfolio, please include the supervisor’s business card and the verification letter must be in a sealed envelope with the supervisors’ signature across the envelope.
- The verification and completion of 20 hours of community service hours must come from one nonprofit organization.
- The 20 hours of unpaid community service must be completed within the last year or the semester/session before submitting the portfolio
- If you completed the 20 hours of unpaid community service within the last two years, the portfolio will be accepted. However, integration of the community service experience will have to be present in the reflection essay.
- Exceptions to the unpaid community service hours requirement will be made for active duty military personnel who are not given release time, but who participate in community service while on duty.
- Provide a copy of the organization’s mission and vision statement. A brochure is acceptable, if you are mailing your portfolio.
- Provide a copy of the $50 assessment fee receipt – for payment instructions, click here.
Submission Deadlines:
Portfolios must be submitted no later than one semester/session before graduation. The reason for the deadline is if the portfolio is denied, the student will be notified of the decision in time to register for an LVE 305 course during the student’s last semester/session at La Verne, thus, not delaying the anticipated graduation plan.
Regional, Online, CAPA and Traditional Undergraduate students’ portfolio submission deadlines:
| Expected Degree Completion (Graduation) | Submission Deadline: |
| Fall Semester (including fall semester session 1 & 2)/ Jan Term | August 1st |
| Spring Semester (including spring semester session 1 & 2) | October 2nd |
| Summer Session (including mini-sessions) | March 1st |
ALL University of La Verne students, including ROC, CAPA, Online and Traditional Undergraduate students should submit their portfolio via mail or online.
Mailed portfolios should be submitted by 5:00 P.M. on or before the due date to the University of La Verne, ATTN: Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Ludwick Center Suite 119, 1950 Third Street, La Verne, CA 91750. *The mailed portfolio must include the application form, located on page 2 of the Community Service Alternative Assessment Application.