For Faculty

The Office of Community-Based Learning supports campus/community engagement, from idea development and course design through project delivery and end-of-term assessment. Please connect with us for a consultation to discuss your ideas.

View CBL's Faculty Handbook

CBL Benefits - Supports Provided By CBL - CBL Best Practices and Pedagogical Resources

CBL Benefits

  • Provides faculty and students a real-world counterpart to theoretical material discussed in the classroom
  • Engages students in High Impact Practices to increase interpersonal growth and challenge world-views and assumptions
  • Supports learning new pedagogical innovations
  • Forges interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Informs current interests and research
  • Builds sustainable community connections
  • Makes a positive impact in the community

CBL Provides the Following Supports

  • Connects faculty, community partners, and students interested in mutually-beneficial collaboration
  • Offers training and orientation that prepare W&L students to engage with the community
  • Supports funding for course (re)design grants
  • Coordinates transportation for students enrolled in CBL courses
  • Spreads the word about collaborations among faculty, community partners, and students
  • Provides opportunities for faculty members to connect and develop CBL courses
  • Formalizes the relationship with community partners through completing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Community Learning Agreement (CLA), participant consent forms, and other legal documents

CBL Best Practices and Pedagogical Resources

CBL Voices

"Community-based learning is going to help [students] become better doctors, better hospital administrators; more informed citizens. It helps you extend the learning beyond the classroom and open your eyes to the broader world."

- Prof. Sarah Blythe, Biology

 "The students get to see that what they have studied for four years isn't just a fairy tale in a textbook - you are really going to make somebody's life better. And to actually have the community be excited is very rewarding. They may never think about a final exam again, but I don't think they will soon forget these projects."

- Prof. Joel Kuehner, Engineering