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.

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

View CBL's Faculty Handbook

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 Next Steps: Best Practices and Pedagogical Resources

  • Schedule a consultation with the CBL office
  • Read our Faculty Handbook
  • Begin to plan a CBL course
  • Review our community partner list
  • View our current CBL courses
  • Consider having a CBL TA
  • Browse our library guide on community-based learning
  • Attend a CBL conference
  • Meet our people 

What Do Faculty Say about Teaching a CBL Course?

Over 87% of Faculty Agree That...

• They would teach their course again as CBL

• CBL positively impacted their relationships with students

"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