Volunteer with community based organizations as part of a course. Community-engaged courses combines service in the community with structured preparation and reflection opportunities, and address concerns that are identified and articulated by the community.

Why get involved

• Relationships: Develop connections with community members and nonprofit organizations; learn from them.
• Personal and professional development: Experience new things, and explore a type of career or area of interest; develop your resume.
• Belong to the community: Get outside the university bubble, and explore the city, different parts of the community, and its landscape of complex realities.
• Contribute to necessary social change: Get involved in/with a community, and contribute to creating the differences that they have determined are necessary.

What to expect

Community engaged learning has the following components:

• Students making and following through on a commitment to volunteer each week of the quarter (generally 3-5 hours, depending on their host organizations’ expectations).
• Community-based organizations provide a structured learning experience for the student.
• Faculty members/instructors assisting the students in thoughtfully integrating their community experiences into course assignments and discussions.
• The quarter-long opportunity usually culminates in a reflective paper or related project, demonstrating the student’s understanding of academic concepts as integrated with the community-based experience.

Next Steps for Students in a Community-Engaged Course