UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2025-2026

Community-Based Learning Policy

Community-Based Research, Community-Based Creative Projects, and Community-Based Learning are holistic research, teaching, and learning strategies that enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen partnerships with our communities. Faculty and students collaborate intentionally with community partners with the goal of establishing a project for the common good that is grounded in reciprocity and equity. Through community-based research, community-based creative projects, and community-based learning, participants of all ages share their experience and knowledge and work together to address issues important to themselves and their communities. Participants not only learn the practical applications of their work, but they also become actively contributing citizens and community members through their collaboration.

Community-based research, community-based creative projects, and community-based learning result in improved student learning outcomes. These practices enhance understanding of course content, critical-thinking skills, retention, sensitivity to diversity, equity, and social justice, and the ability to apply academic concepts. This policy will allow the campus to clarify, define, tag and assess community-based research, creative projects, and learning in courses.

Criteria for Community-Based Learning (CS) Designation

Each CS course or section must:

  1. Involve students in community-based learning activities or projects that are responsive to community-identified needs.
  2. Be arranged in partnership with community-based or campus-based organizations.
  3. Integrate course theory/concepts with community-based work that directly addresses community needs (i.e., a situation where theory/concepts can be tested in practice or a situation where community needs demand innovative solutions relevant to course theory and concepts).
  4. Require students to integrate the learning derived from community-based work with course learning outcomes through critical reflection exercises; discussion; and written, oral and/or media presentations.
  5. Provide students an opportunity for consistent engagement with the community, involving at least several hours across the academic term, focused on at least two of the learning outcomes listed below.

Community-Based Learning Student Learning Outcomes

Each community-based learning course must meet at least two Community-Based Learning student learning outcomes as a result of completing a community-based learning course.

  1. Self and Social Awareness: Students will develop an understanding of the social, cultural and civic aspects of their personal identities.
  2. Service and Social Responsibility: Students will develop an understanding of social responsibility and the connections between short-term community service and greater long-term societal well-being.
  3. Community and Social Justice: Students will develop an understanding of how the actions of individuals and social systems bring about both equity and inequity in communities and society.
  4. Career Development and Professional Development: Students will develop career skills needed to address the cultural, linguistic, humanistic, artistic, economic, scientific, social and/or civic issues of our time.
  5. Multicultural Community Building/Civic Engagement: Students will learn from and work responsively and inclusively with diverse individuals, groups and organizations to build more just, equitable and sustainable communities.