Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL)

Executive Director: Dr. Becky Jo Gesteland
Telephone Contact: Ella Mitchell (801) 626-7737
Location: Center for Community Engaged Learning, Shepherd Union, 327
Internet Address: weber.edu/CCEL

The Center for Community Engaged Learning at Weber State University facilitates both curricular and co-curricular community engaged learning experiences. Courses designated as Community Engaged Learning (CEL) are designed to provide students learning opportunities through real life experiences and application of knowledge in the community. These courses provide a structured approach to learning and teaching that connects meaningful community experience with intellectual development, personal growth, and active citizenship. Community engaged learning enriches coursework by encouraging students to apply the knowledge and analytic tools gained in the classroom to the pressing issues affecting local communities.

Community engagement describes the collaboration between Weber State University and our larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity (Carnegie Foundation). Community engaged learning therefore is defined as an activity that involves a collaborative, reciprocal relationship with the community that prepares our students, faculty, staff and alumni to be engaged citizens, strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility by addressing community issues.

Community engaged learning can be facilitated through: service, democratic engagement and community research.

Service experiences often involve working directly with community residents to meet an immediate need. Examples of service include, but are not limited to: volunteering to serve meals at a homeless shelter, using academic knowledge to develop an electronic food-monitoring database for a food pantry, serving as a mentor or tutor in a local school or youth development program, cleaning up the banks of the Ogden River, or coaching a city youth sport.

Democratic engagement experiences often involve raising awareness about issues of public concern and working more systematically through both political and non-political processes to create change. Examples of democratic engagement include, but are not limited to: attending organized discussions about pollution; community organizing; writing a letter to an elected official; engaging others in the process of deliberative democracy; or producing information about community issues.

Community research experiences often involve gathering information with and for community organizations to solve a pressing community problem or create change. Examples of community research include, but are not limited to: community needs assessment survey; water quality or scientific assessment; or program evaluation for non-profit organizations.

Regardless of the type of community engaged learning experience, students are expected to acquire four community engaged learning outcomes through their experiences: civic knowledge, civic skills, civic values, and civic action. Community engaged learning outcomes, definitions, and measurement rubrics can be found at www.weber.edu/CCEL.

Courses

Community engaged learning is not specific to any one discipline; in fact, CEL courses exist in many disciplines across campus. For example, an Athletic Training class incorporates a service component wherein students are utilizing their knowledge and skills gleaned from class to serve patrons at a local free medical clinic.

Community Engaged Learning courses are designated with a CEL prefix and are listed in the course schedule published online each semester. Additionally, a full list of CEL designated courses can be found on the Center for Community Engaged Learning website at weber.edu/CCEL.