Chapter 17: Practical Considerations for Community-Engaged Learning

Practical Considerations for Community-Engaged Learning

Email Etiquette

Your correspondence with Community Partners should be professional and articulate.

• Begin by addressing your Community Partner in a professional manner (e.g., Dear Mrs. Kang). When you’re unsure how to address your Community Partner, it is safest to err on the side of formality
• Ensure that your email is informative and necessary. Make sure to include the reason for your email and be clear about what you’re expecting from your community partner
• Use a respectful closing and sign with your name (e.g., Sincerely, George)
• Make sure to include a brief but informative subject heading

Workplace Practices

Do your best to find out what your Community Partner’s work culture is like.

• Please remember that student schedules are not the same as many work schedules. It is important to find out what hours your Community Partners are at work and when and how is most convenient for them for you to communicate or meet.
• Clothing or self-presentation should also be in line with the Community Partner’s expectations. Note, this doesn’t mean more formal clothing is better. Dressing up may be appropriate for meeting a business partner, but inappropriate to visit a shelter or food bank. Be conscious of the ways your appearance might affect how people might view you as a McMaster representative.
• You are there to learn and contribute, not impose your own beliefs and values. Listen, observe, and be sensitive to power dynamics and hierarchies and how you might be consciously or subconsciously participating in them.

Meeting Management

Much of your community-engaged work can involve meetings. Again, there will be professional expectations regarding these events. Here are a few tips:

• Appreciate different work schedules and when people are available
• Send calendar invites to make it easy for participants to remember and know what to do. Include all relevant meeting details including the location or Zoom coordinates
• Meet the community partner how/where they feel comfortable. Sometimes a phone call or in-person visit is better than an email or Zoom call
• Set agendas for meetings so everyone knows what to expect