Guidelines for Host Families in the

Summer Service Learning Program

The Summer Service Learning Program (SSLP) is an eight-week service experience within a three credit Theology course. Students serve at approximately 200 sites throughout the United States, sponsored by Notre Dame Alumni Clubs. The SSLP provides Notre Dame students, alumni and alumnae with an opportunity to address the injustice of poverty. The program is deeply enhanced by conversations between students and alums about social issues, challenges at the site and how to integrate social concerns into life beyond Notre Dame.

As a three-credit Theology course, the SSLP requires students to participate in two orientation sessions, complete the reading and writing assignments during the summer, and participate in follow-up discussions during the fall semester, in addition to their work on site.

Students receive a tuition scholarship of $2,300. Room and board is arranged by the Alumni Clubs and that’s where you come in! As a host family you provide the student(s) with a place to sleep and eat, but in addition, you are the student’s home and therefore a major source of support for their experience. With this support and connection in mind, here are some ideas and guidelines to ensure that both you and the student’s needs and expectations are met in this relationship.

1. Communication: Make household rules and expectations clear right from the start. If you expect the student to abide to a curfew or help out with household chores, which we encourage, establish this from the start and ask for the students response. In this way, the student will truly be a member of the household and know what that means in your home.
2. Meals: Host families are the main source of meals for the student volunteers. If the student needs to bring a lunch to their site be sure to have food available for them to pack a lunch. Discussing schedules and working to share dinner each evening during the summer is a great way to find time to talk about your community and the student’s work. If family dinners are not always possible, please let the student know what food is available for them to prepare their own dinner. In some clubs, members of the Alumni club who are not housing the student invite the student over for dinner.
3. Allergies, smoking and other special needs: If a student is allergic to cats, dogs, or certain foods, we ask them to talk with the Alumni club contact by April to see if accommodations meet their requirements. If not, they can look for another site at that point. Some families have pro-actively asked that the student not smoke and most students do not, so this has not come an issue.
4. Course expectations: Students have reading and writing to do during the summer (check out the syllabus on the web site), so they may need to spend some time alone in their rooms doing this work.
5. Share in the Experience: Many of the SSLP students are engaged in meaningful but often intense work throughout their stay. Ask questions, give advice, and be supportive. You can act as an awesome resource and ultimately aide in the student’s understanding of the issues of the site.

Host families have had a huge impact on the students and many students stay in touch for years to come. Students also enjoy visits from the host families when they come to campus on football weekends or at other times of the year. We deeply appreciate you hospitality for the students!