What is Community Engaged Learning?
Our team understands community engaged learning at the University of Arizona as both formal (academic coursework, internship, paid experiences, research or other institutionally supported activities) and informal (volunteering, short and long term projects, or other grassroots partnerships) opportunities that are designed to address needs defined by the local community and context, are grounded in reciprocity and sustainable partnerships, supported with learning objectives and outcomes generated with the community and foster ongoing reflection for students.*
The report, resources, examples, and case studies provided here are intended to capture a local understanding of the courses, programs, and opportunities that involve undergraduate students in community engaged projects which serve community needs and enhance their learning. Kimi Eisele, who was commissioned to develop the Places of Consequnce report, defines “community” as entities, organizations, neighborhoods, and people that exist outside of the university and within Tucson and other areas of the Southwest.
*Definition of community engaged learning was adapted from Michigan State University Center for Community Engaged Learning
Explore the Toolkit
While not exhaustive of all community engaged learning efforts within the University, this site is intended to be a starting place for students, faculty, staff, and community partners to see what is working for some and what might be possible.
The University of Arizona sits on the original homelands of indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land since time immemorial. Aligning with the university’s core value of a diverse and inclusive community, it is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up the Wildcat community. At the institutional level, it is important to be proactive in broadening awareness throughout campus to ensure our students feel represented and valued.