For Faculty & Staff

Community engaged learning connects community engagement to academic coursework and is designed to enhance student learning through mutually beneficial, classroom/community collaborations.  The Center for Careers, Life, and Service supports faculty and staff in developing curricular initiatives with a diverse group of community partners that operate within about a 60 mile radius of campus.

How can we help?

Feel free to contact Julie Lascol, Associate Director of Community Engaged Learning, or peruse the options below for more about how we may be of assistance.

student painting a mural on a cinder block wall

Explore and Design a Community Engaged Learning (C-EL) Course

Let us help you brainstorm ideas and share community-engaged learning opportunities, provide access to resources and funding, or help facilitate  the building of community relationships and partnerships.

Learn More

 

Fund a C-EL Course

Whether you are planning or implementing a community engaged course or are working to complete or sustain a project started in a class, the Center for Careers, Life, and Service and the Academic Dean’s office both have funding resources that may help.

Learn More

 

Formalize and Implement a C-EL Course

Let us help you formalize community and academic expectations, finalize funding sources and coordinate partnerships and logistics as you teach your course.

Learn More

 

Assess and Sustain Community Engaged Projects

Let us help provide resources for reflection and feedback, create a plan for transitioning projects from one semester to another or to transition it into a co-curricular endeavor, or make other changes to either sustain an initiative or bring it to a close.

Learn More

 

Locate General Resources

When teaching a community engaged class you don’t have to recreate the wheel.  We have a wide array of resources that might help.

Learn More

 

Explore What Others Have Done

Want to know more about what others have done? Maybe knowing more might spark your imagination or help you identify someone with a valuable perspective or insight?  We have a number of examples of community engaged courses that your colleagues have offered at Grinnell.

Learn More

 

Welcome sign

Social Justice Tour

The service and social innovation staff in the CLS have designed a tour for people who are interested in becoming active in the civic life of Grinnell and who want to learn more about becoming socially just collaborators in community action.

Learn More

carpool clipart

Community Engaged Class Transportation

While many of our community partners are within walking distance of campus, others are located in our surrounding communities where transportation to and from a site is required.  The CLS partners with Facilities Management to help accommodate these service transportation needs.

Learn More 

visa

Critical Considerations for F-1 Students

F-1 students may typically participate in charitable or humanitarian service, like serving food at a soup kitchen, reading to children at a public library, or visiting the elderly.  However, many other scenarios of off campus community engagement fall into a category that is off limits or requires practical training authorization. Before planning your class please consult with Julie Lascol or with someone from the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA).

Learn More (login required)

Gow to Volunteer: 5 Simple Steps to Finding Meaning & Making a Difference

Written by Elysia Gabe, Volunteer Match

Volunteering might evoke images of soup kitchens, beach cleanups and fundraising galas. But the truth is, there are a whole lot more ways to volunteer! So many, in fact, that it can feel overwhelming …

By Source and Author Noted Above
Source and Author Noted Above
Read more »

What Is Systems Change? 6 Questions, Answered

By  Rachel Jetel, World Resources Institute

Systems change. Transformation. Deep transition. These phrases are used so often they risk becoming buzzwords with diminished meaning.

And yet to limit global temperature rise, conserve nature, and build a fairer economy that benefits …

By Source and Author Noted Above
Source and Author Noted Above
Read more »

Systems stewardship in practice: What it is and how to get started

Written by: Dawn Plimmer, Collaborate for Social Change, Dec 14, 2022

The case for collaboration is stronger than ever but realising its potential is daunting when confronted by systems that are often siloed, competitive and fragmented. These barriers will persist …

By Source and Author Noted Above
Source and Author Noted Above
Read more »

Contact Us

Phone
(641) 269-4940
Address

John Chrystal Center
1103 Park Street
Grinnell, IA 50112

Hours

Monday 8:00am–5:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am–5:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am–5:00pm
Thursday 8:00am–5:00pm
Friday 8:00am–5:00pm
Alumni Connections  |  News  |  Events  |   Experiences  |   Jobs  |   Resources  |   Videos