Code of Conduct and Policies for CBL Students

Code of Conduct for CBL Students

  • Being dependable/attendance - CBL students are expected to attend their CBL site according to the schedule they arrange with their site supervisor or professor. CBL students are expected to contact the CBL staff and their site supervisor one week in advance if they are not able to attend their site as scheduled, except in the case of illness or emergency. Every effort should be made to “make up” missed time as possible within the context of a student’s site. Note that site supervisors may choose to share feedback on attendance with CBL professors and/or the CBL Office. Inconsistent attendance will jeopardize a student’s eligibility for the CBL Transcript Designation. Regarding attendance, it is important to remember that proper attendance is about more than meeting your CBL requirements. Being dependable, showing up on time, and staying engaged throughout the semester also shows appreciation to our community partners for  hosting us in their agencies. 
  • Complying with agency policies and procedures - CBL students are expected to comply with agency policies and procedures, including CORI background checks, attendance policy, dress code, and confidentiality policy (if applicable).
  • Professionalism - CBL students should stay focused on the CBL activities they have agreed upon with their community agency. This means maintaining professional boundaries (see the “Safety and Boundaries” section below), avoiding asking personal questions, avoiding getting involved in personal issues, limiting cell phone use, etc. 
  • Communication - You are expected to be prompt and professional in your communications with community partners and the Donelan Office. Community partners and the Donelan Office will be reaching out to you at the beginning of the semester regarding sign-up logistics, as well as throughout the semester with important information you may need for volunteering. We ask that you be attentive and responsive to these communications. Want tips on communicating effectively over email? Check out the presentation, "Writing emails for college and work" (PDF) by the Center for Writing. 
  • Reporting behaviors - CBL students should inform the on-site agency contact of behaviors that are of concern. CBL students should utilize agency staff, the Donelan Office staff and CBL Interns, and/or their CBL professor as resources to navigate difficult conversations/situations. Students are never expected to remain in a situation that makes them uncomfortable and should leave a situation immediately should they feel uncomfortable.
  • Respecting cultures and customs - The communities, agencies, and people CBL students work with may be different from their own. Students should endeavor to respect the culture, structures, and customs of the communities they are working with in CBL, striving to deeply listen and understand, suspend judgment and stereotypes, and connect across differences. 
  • Reciprocity/Asset-based mindset - Students are expected to approach their CBL in a reciprocal manner, understanding that both the student and the community member give and gain in the relationship. In a similar vein, students should utilize an asset-based approach to CBL, meaning that CBL students and the CBL program are building upon the assets of the community (not filling in gaps or making up for deficits).

Additional Policies and Procedures

  • CBL Student Handbook
    • All CBL students should review the CBL Student Handbook prior to their semester/year of CBL. The Donelan Office encourages students to use the handbook throughout the year to help students make the most of CBL. 
  • CBL Registration Form
    • After you have received confirmation on your CBL, submit a registration form to the Donelan Office via the registration form link. Without submission of this form, neither the Donelan Office nor your professor officially has a record of your CBL site and schedule. 
  • Transportation
    • If you need a ride to your CBL agency, make sure to complete the CBL Registration Form as soon as possible. The Registration Form includes a question about your transportation needs, as well as a separate waiver to sign should you need transportation. Answering this question and signing the waiver will prompt the J.D. Power Center to add you into our Community Engagement Ride Share program (run by Uber for Business). Once you are added, you will then get an email from the J.D. Power Center with more information about how to access transportation for CBL.
    • Navigate to the Transportation Office's website for more information.
    • If you have questions or concerns about transportation once you’ve reviewed the Ride Share program access and use instructions, contact the J.D. Power Center.
  • CBL Transcript Designation
    • Students taking a placement-based CBL class may be eligible for a CBL designation on their transcript. Eligibility will be determined based upon whether the class meets all CBL designation criteria and whether the student is engaged in the community for a time commitment equivalent to at least two hours per week throughout the semester (including a reasonable amount of transportation time). Any students volunteering regularly (remotely or in person) with a community-based organization as part of a class, should fill out a Community-Based Learning (CBL) Registration Form once the weekly schedule is determined. If you are volunteering for two or more hours per week, you may be eligible for the CBL Transcript Designation. Submission of the CBL Registration Form ensures that the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning is aware of your community engagement and knows to contact you towards the end of the semester to confirm eligibility for the designation. Any questions about this form or the CBL Transcript Designation, can be directed to donelanoffice@holycross.edu. 

  • Safety and Boundaries

    • When on- and off-campus, it is important to be mindful of your surroundings and pay attention to what is happening around you.
    • Identify your on-site contact and make sure you can connect with them upon arrival and throughout your time at CBL. The Donelan Office will assist you in identifying your on-site contact. If you have trouble connecting with your on-site contact, be sure to contact the Donelan Office immediately. 
    • Maintain professional relationships, especially regarding communication. Be sure to use campus-issued communication accounts, such as your Holy Cross e-mail. While at CBL, limit the use of personal communication devices, such as cellphones. Finally, when possible, communicate during “Business hours” (when your agency is open). 
    • Always be sure to notice how you feel and ask yourself important questions when it comes to relationship-building and boundaries. What is important to you? When do you feel within your comfort zone? What makes you uncomfortable or unsafe? Reflecting on these questions will help you to build and maintain appropriate relationships and to feel comfortable in CBL. 
    • Utilize your resources! Resources available to you specifically regarding safety and boundaries are your agency’s office, the Donelan Office, Public Safety, the Office of Title IX, and the Chaplains’ Office. Contact the Donelan Office for assistance connecting with any of these resources.
    • Students are never expected to remain in a situation that makes them uncomfortable. Students should leave a situation immediately should they feel uncomfortable and contact any of the aforementioned resources for assistance.

    Questions or Concerns