Community-Engaged Learning

Faculty Services and Resources for

Community-Engaged Learning

students working with plants in the city

Education as critical collaboration

Portland State University (PSU) is internationally recognized for its commitment to community-engaged learning (CEL), an expansive collection of pedagogies that happen within and outside of PSU classrooms. Regarding credit-bearing CEL courses, our campus has a new,  faculty-senate-approved course designation (formerly community-based learning, CBL), which reads: 
A CEL course involves collaboration among community partners, students, and faculty/staff for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge, experiences, and resources. It is important that:

  • Community-engaged experiences are central to course outcomes and goals (for all participants).
  • Participants reflect critically on their community engagement.

Many of PSU’s co-curricular CEL programs (such as our Student Community Engagement Center) share the above elements while allowing for students, faculty and staff to engage in a more voluntary way. 

How might the Office of Academic Innovation support your CEL course/program? Contact Harold McNaron to discuss.

faculty and staff working together

One-on-One CEL Consultations

Do you have a specific CEL course or challenge you’d like to work through? Schedule an initial consultation with Harold McNaron, the Teaching, Learning, and Engagement Associate at OAI.

faculty seated listening to each other speak

Department Workshops

Is your department considering a deeper investment in community-based learning? Excellent! Schedule a workshop customized to suit your team’s needs.