Service-Learning Certificate
While earning a degree at Bentley, students are also able to earn the Service-Learning Certificate. The certificate represents to potential employers and others in the community a student’s understanding that social responsibility and ethics are important components of the American business environment. To obtain the certificate, students must complete 120 hours of service to the community while attending Bentley. Credit and noncredit service hours can be combined to meet the 120-hour requirement. Successful completion of the certificate is recognized on the student’s graduation transcript.
You can be part of this important undergraduate effort. While pursuing your degree as a Bentley student, you are eligible to earn the Service-Learning Undergraduate Certificate. It is a true mark of distinction that can set you apart from other graduates not only as a leader in the community and the classroom, but also as a winner in the job search process.
Social responsibility and ethics are important components of the American business environment. Today’s business environment demands individuals who have distinguished themselves as socially responsible and civically engaged. Through the Service-Learning Undergraduate Certificate Program, Bentley offers you the opportunity to demonstrate these qualities to potential employers, neighbors
and friends.
All Bentley students who contribute at least 120 hours of service in the community during their four years at Bentley College and participate in Bentley’s Civic Leadership Program are eligible for the Undergraduate Certificate. Certificate holders receive a special notation on their graduation transcripts and recognition by the college as leaders in social responsibility and civic engagement.
Program Requirements
The 120 hours of service should span your career at Bentley and may be composed of service undertaken through 4th-credit options, embedded course projects, internships, the International Service-Learning Program, and Bentleys noncredit work study and Community Work Program.
Program details:
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At least 60 of the 120 hours must be undertaken for credit, e.g., embedded course projects, 4th-credit projects, and internship projects with nonprofit or other service organizations.
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No more than 20 hours may be credited from each embedded course project that you undertake. There is no limit, however, to the number of embedded projects you may undertake and apply toward the certificate.
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No more than 20 hours of your 120 hours may be credited from internships. The maximum of 20 hours applies no matter how many internships with non-profit or other service organizations you undertake.
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At least 100 of the 120 hours must have been completed by the end of your junior year.
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Up to 10 hours of verified service completed during your high school or pre-Bentley career may be applied to the 120-hour total.
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You must apply for the Certificate program by January 31 of your sophomore year or before you reach Level 4 status, whichever is later.
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You must enroll and participate in the Bentley Civic Leadership Program.
Application Process
To receive the Service-Learning Undergraduate Certificate, you must apply. A completed application form must be received by BSLC by January 31 of your sophomore year or before you reach Level 4 status, whichever is later. You may and are encouraged to apply much earlier. Apply Now
During the four years at Bentley, you must keep an electronic record of your service activities. The record is a rolling document. The
record template, which is called the Certificate Summary Report
(CSR), is available on the BSLC website. BSLC will verify your CSR at regular intervals. The verification will likely include at least one meeting per year between you and members of the BSLC staff and student leaders.
The CSR must include a listing of the service sites, the dates of the service, the number of service hours, a contact at the service site, and an identification of the service as part of a credit or noncredit project.
You may also submit supplementary materials relating to any of the service projects including faculty evaluations, letters of commendation from site supervisors, journal entries, and other relevant data may also be included.
By spring semester of your senior year, you must also verify that you have successfully participated in Bentley’s Civic Leadership Program.
Upon submission of complete, accurate, and verified application materials, BSLC will award the Certificate and request that the Registrar include the Certificate designation on your transcript.
For more information, attend a scheduled Orientation Session or contact:
Franklyn P. Salimbene
Director, Bentley Service-Learning Center
E-mail: fsalimbene@bentley.edu
Tel: 781.891.2462
