Community-Engaged Learning

Community Organizations

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

For more information regarding internships, please visit our Center for Career and Professional Development