Office of Graduate Studies
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Service-Learning and Professional Development Badge Program

Service-Learning and Professional Development (SLPD) Badge Program

Overview

Graduate students expressed a desire to receive formal credit for learning from co-curricular activities and events, including service-learning and professional development. With the Service Learning and Professional Development Badge Program, graduate students can document time spent on important activities and events that advance their careers, which may occur outside the laboratory or classroom. UNMC offers four levels of recognition (bronze through platinum), with each level requiring more service-learning and professional development activities or events. To receive badging credit for service learning, professional development, or other co-curricular activity that includes a service-learning or professional development component, students must complete an online survey and submit a reflection. Activities must be documented within two months of the activity to receive credit.

What is Service-Learning? “A method in which students learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that is conducted and meets the needs of a community and is coordinated with an institute of higher education and with the community; helps to foster civic responsibility and is integrated into and enhances academic curriculum of the students and includes structured time for the students to reflect on the service experience.” -National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

What is Professional Development? Professional development can be defined as co-curricular activities, including seminars, webinars, workshops, panels, and other learning opportunities, that advance an individual’s knowledge, qualities, skills, and competencies and contribute to their professional success. For graduate students, this includes any co-curricular activity that supports success in graduate school, as well as activities focused on a wide range of transferable skills and career development.

What is a Co-Curricular Activity or Event? Co-curricular activities and events are voluntary learning experiences designed to complement what graduate students learn in their programs, coursework, and research. Co-curricular activities or events enhance the learning of skills, attitudes, or behaviors associated with health science professions, are linked to Graduate Studies learning outcomes, focus on a skill not generally discovered in the curriculum, and are not part of an academic course. Please see the FAQ section for a list of activities that fall into this category.

Students who meet the minimum requirements to earn a bronze, silver, or gold-level badge receive the award at the Graduate Studies Convocation. Prior to that, students who believe they are eligible for the platinum badge should apply for the award by contacting the Interim Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies. Students will be awarded a bronze, silver, gold, or platinum badge based on their achievements, which can be included on the CV and will be acknowledged at convocation.

Levels of Achievement

  • Bronze: 50 hours
  • Silver: 100 hours
  • Gold: 150 hours
  • Platinum: 200 hours PLUS one of the following:
    • Service for at least one year as a president or vice president of a recognized student organization at UNMC.
    • Exceptional contribution to the student community, such as development of a new program, starting a new club, or organization at UNMC.
    • Platinum badges require review and are awarded on a case-by-case basis

What Activities Count Toward the SLPD Badge?

A wide range of voluntary, co-curricular activities may qualify, provided they include a service-learning and/or professional development component and are not required as part of your academic program or employment.

Common categories include (but are not limited to):

  • Professional Development - Workshops, seminars, webinars, panels, career development events, fellowship workshops, dissertation boot camp, skill-building sessions, and similar activities.
  • Service-Learning / Community Engagement - Activities that meet a community need, promote civic responsibility, or create positive community impact.
  • Leadership - Serving in leadership roles at the program, department, institutional, or professional-organization level.
  • Teaching & Mentoring - Voluntary teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or training activities not required by your program or stipend support.
  • Planning / Administration - Planning, organizing, or administering programs or events.
  • Peer Mentoring - Formal peer mentoring roles through recognized programs.

If you are unsure whether an activity qualifies, contact Graduate Studies before submitting.

For more information and to self-enroll in the Grad Studies Badge Program Canvas Course, follow this link: https://unmc.instructure.com/enroll/XAWC6M and use your UNMC credentials.