Working in Partnership with the Community
There are many reasons for a community-based organization to consider partnering with St. Olaf College through the Center for Experiential Learning (CEL). At a basic level, it is an opportunity to tap into the enthusiasm, energy and intellect of St. Olaf students who are interested in contributing to the community through civic engagement activity. Students and faculty benefit through their partnership with you, your practical expertise and knowledge of the community, and the opportunities for applied learning that you provide.
The Center for Experiential Learning is conscious of the fact that any campus-community partnership must be mutually beneficial for it to succeed. Our role is to support and encourage reciprocal relationships between faculty members, students and leaders of community organizations — knowing that everyone involved functions as both a teacher and a learner.
Below are ideas of civic engagement activities you might consider for your organization. The CEL uses the broad term "civic engagement" to represent many different ways that our students engage in the community. We've conceptualized these activities as curricular and co-curricular in order to distinguish important characteristics of our work. The list is not meant to be exhaustive, but instead presents the primary ways that St. Olaf students contribute in the community.
If you have an idea or project that you'd like to discuss, please complete a Community-Based Organizations Questionnaire and email it to jacobi@stolaf.edu.
Academic (Curricular) Civic Engagement
Student involvement in the community that is integrated into a course or carries academic credit.
Service-Learning
Service-Learning is both a teaching method and a learning process that combines community service and academic learning. It is rooted in academic courses which are based on curricular concepts, theories and methods.
Direct Service - Students work directly with community members in need so as to develop relationships and to gain a deeper appreciation of systemic causes of social needs.
Advocacy - Students examine a particular social or environmental issue and then take strategic action to affect political or social change.
Organizational Development - Students apply their skills and knowledge to address particular organizational needs/goals by assisting with projects related to marketing, grant writing, entrepreneurship, etc.
Community-based Research
Students apply concepts and methods from a particular course by conducting relevant research for an organization or cause (e.g. evaluation, needs assessment, public policy, etc.).
Internships
Academic internships allow students to apply their classroom learning to a structured educational work experience.
*Field Experience (coordinated by academic departments)
Students are placed in organizations for the purpose of observing or applying professional concepts, theories or methods. See Social Work Practicum, Nursing Clinical or Education Field Experience.
Co-curricular Civic Engagement
Student involvement in the community that does not carry academic credit.
Community-based Work Study
Students have the opportunity to earn their work-study award off campus by performing jobs in the community. The partnerships developed between the colleges and non-profit and public service organizations lend an opportunity for students to connect, engage, and add value to our community.
Career Exploration
Students explore career ideas through non-academic internships, job shadowing and informational interviewing.
*Volunteering (coordinated through Student Activities)
Volunteer experiences may be one-time or ongoing. The Volunteer Network is a student-run organization that connects students to volunteer opportunities.
