PIP Activity Reflection

PIP Aquarium Activity Report:

Date of Activity: March 9, 2024

1. How did your project help you gain more knowledge about course learning objectives, program outcomes, or other goals that were set? How did you apply what you learned in class to your student project? 

This project helped us gain more knowledge about the course learning objectives in the Civically Engaged Scholars course. This course is designed to immerse students in the Deaf community through service-learning opportunities and promote awareness and understanding of Deaf culture. We showed commitment to the Deaf community by supporting and contributing to the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind - Parent Infant Program (PIP). We demonstrated awareness of Salt Lake Community College’s resources and identified a need in the Deaf community that we could support, show encouragement to, and serve.

We used American Sign Language as often as possible throughout the activity while assisting parents and families with their Deaf children. In class we strive to improve and develop our ASL and interpreting skills. At the activity we demonstrated what we have learned, and it was satisfying to be able to communicate with Deaf people. We know our time serving and associating with the Parent Infant Program in the Deaf community was well spent because we built relationships with a community partner that we hope to serve again, in the future.

2. Did you meet a community identified need; how do you know?

We identified a community need with the help of our teacher, Connie Spanton-Jex. Connie is the director of the ASL/English Interpreting Program at Salt Lake Community College. We were informed of an upcoming need, and an opportunity to serve and support one of our Deaf community partners. We know we met a community identified need because the PIP mentors were excited and happy to see us engage with families that have Deaf children. They were thrilled with the financial support that SLCC provided and grateful for the willingness of its students to volunteer.

We were excited to participate in this project because we learned that this was the first time the ASL/English Interpreting department has participated in using the available funds from SLCC to support a community partner.

3. What went well? What did not go well? How might your project continue into the future? 

Several things went well with this activity.  A student covered most of the finances herself and was later reimbursed. We did all the shopping for supplies and food and another student prepared craft kits. We met with the community partner to tie up the final details and SLCC students volunteered and received service hours as part of a class requirement. The ASL/Interpreting department provided beautiful SLCC name badges and matching shirts to identify us as SLCC volunteers.  We were able to meet with Ethan Hogan from the Engaged Learning Office who was very helpful.  The aquarium was accommodating and we were fully prepared for the activity which was a delight to be a small part of.  There were a few things that caused wrinkles. The Deaf school informed us that the number of participants increased, and we needed much more food than originally anticipated. This was not a problem because we expected this  to happen when budgeting, and we became aware of this issue prior to shopping. Being a new employee, Ethan from the Engaged Learning Office didn't have his P card yet, which is used for purchasing supplies for this kind of an event. Waiting for the card may have increased the cost of the admission for the SLCC students but he did some magic, and we were still able to get student discount. We believe the community was excited and grateful for our involvement and will not hesitate to invite us to help again.

4. What were the actual final expenses? How did you pay for your project?

Finances: 

Our final expenses of $383.77 included snacks for 200 people, crafts for 50 children, and raffle prizes for six children.  A student paid for these expenses and was reimbursed promptly within the week. The Engaged Learning Office provided admission to the Aquarium for the SLCC students for a total of $95.25.  Ethan from the department covered this expense with his new P Card.  The total expenses for our portion of the activity was $479.02 and our budget was $500.  We’re a little concerned about personal financial flexibility for future students.