Community Organizations

Community-Engaged Learning

Community-Engaged Learning aims to serve as a bridge between the SU campus and Georgetown’s organizations. Our goal is to support Southwestern students, staff and faculty in developing meaningful, sustainable partnerships with community organizations that are working to address Georgetown’s pressing issues.

We encourage community partners to consider your most pressing needs when choosing the appropriate partnership.

What is the scope of your project?

How long will your project take to complete? Can your project be completed by one person or a team?

What are your expected outcomes?

Does your project require a specific skill-set or disciplinary lens?

Distinguishing characteristics of community service/volunteerism, community-engaged learning, and internships.

	COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEERING	COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING	INTERNSHIPS
Primary Focus	Providing meaningful service to nonprofits or community organizations	Providing meaningful service and intentional learning	Learning by practical application and developing professional skills
Educational Purpose/ Benefits	Student Personal/social growth and development Increased awareness of social problems Community Partners Immediate needs are met	Student Academic learning Intellectual growth Increasing sense of civic engagement Deeper understanding of the structural causes of complex social issues Community Partners Capacity building to address unmet needs Programs become more sustainable	Student Career development Practical and hands-on application of skills/knowledge Career networking Community Partners Increases organization’s visibility on campus and in community Capacity to complete a specific program or project
Nature of Activity	Based on student’s interest/motivation	Based on course topics and learning goals	Based on industry or career and learning goals
Length of time	Usually one time	Full semester, typically during the academic year. Fall 2020- August, 24- December, 4 Spring 2021- January 11- April 28	Full semester during the academic semester. Summer -6+ weeks Fall/Spring -10+ weeks 120 site hours
Partnership Examples:	Partnering with SU student organizations Participating as a host site for the BIG Event.	Spanish III where SU intermediate Spanish students assist in dual language classrooms or ESL programs	Social Media Intern Fundraising Intern

Adapted from: University of Northern Iowa https://engagement.uni.edu/service-learning/course-designation/table-distinguishing-characteristics-between-service-learning

Community-Engaged Learning