What is Community-Engaged Learning?
Community-Engaged Learning – CEL (#290) is a community-based and experiential educational opportunity aimed to enhance learning, through community engagement. In the CEL experience, students learn more about social issues, work alongside community partners, combine their off-campus learning with guided reflection under the mentorship of a faculty sponsor, and participate in critical reflection workshops with the OCEL. Students are eligible to receive either 0.5 unit (40 hours of community-based work and 30 hours of academic work) or 1.0 unit of academic credit (80 hours of community-based work and 60 hours of academic work) in the department of their faculty sponsor. The OCEL upholds the College’s commitment to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment. Please contact the office if you need any accommodations.
CEL projects and experiences are varied but include these criteria:
- Address a specific community-identified interest, inquiry, project, or idea;
- Includes working with and learning alongside a non-profit, governmental, or public service community organization that serves as a co-educator;
- Enhances classroom learning by making connections between the community-based work and the academic work;
- Centers structured critical reflection;
- Helps students develop tools and knowledge for social change.
Step 1: Set up an appointment with the OCEL!
Click here to find an appointment.
The OCEL meets with each student interested in CEL, even if you have done a CEL before. In this meeting, we will discuss your social justice passions, areas of interest, local community partners, transportation options, and go into more detail about the steps below. If you have a resume prepared, great! If not, we recommend meeting with The Center for Career Education (CCE).
In preparation, we encourage you to review CEL Opportunities here.
Step 2: Connect and interview with a community organization.
The OCEL will provide you with the contact information. We recommend that you share why you are interested in working alongside the organization and a copy of your resume.
Step 3: Communicate with the OCEL to let us know if you are offered a position.
Step 4: Ask a faculty member to be your faculty sponsor and get approval from your advisor.
We recommend asking someone you have taken a class with previously, or whose research aligns with the work of the organization. You will receive credit in the Department of your Faculty Sponsor.
Step 5: Register for CEL!
Please Register for CEL with the Add Form on the Registrar’s website. The Fall CEL Add Period has ended.
Spring CEL Registration Periods:
Pre-Registration Phase 1 (November 10 – 21)
Pre-Registration Phase 2 (December 11, 12, 15)
CEL Add Period (January 21 – February 4, 2026)
Step 6: Complete the CEL Agreement Form.
Click here for the Fall 2025 CEL Agreement Form.
Step 7: Attend Mandatory CEL Workshops throughout the semester and engage in reflection
Click here to sign up for the Mid-Semester CEL workshop!
Should you have any questions, please email ocel@vassar.edu