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Community Engaged Learning criteria

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Three students walking by the Mississippi River

Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Designation Decision Guide

Determine whether your course qualifies for a Community Engaged Learning designation.

Required course criteria

The course must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Include at least 15 hours of engagement with/for a community organization or individual that is mutually beneficial and provides a service or deliverable.
  2. Include at least one reflection piece on the engagement that is tied to graded course material.
  3. (Undergraduate only) include a syllabus that contains a community-engaged Student Learning Outcome(s) (SLO)(s) statement aligned with at least one Eagle Advantage competency. 
  4. Students and the CEL assignment are primarily supervised by a UWL instructor, and instructors oversee the day-to-day supervision of the students. (e.g., internship and clinical rotation courses are not eligible)

If you answered "yes" to these steps, continue to the next section. If any of the required course criteria are not met, the course is not eligible for a UWL Community Engaged Learning designation under current CEL guidelines.

Which best describes your course?

Choose the option below that best matches how your course is taught.

  1. Same instructor: The course is taught consistently by the same instructor each semester or each year.
    1. The course maintains its CEL designation, pending periodic review every 5 years.
  2. Different instructors: The course is taught by different instructors each semester/year that may/may not use the same course materials.
    1. Each instructor must apply for their own designation. Each course section maintains its CEL designation, pending periodic review every 5 years.
  3. Multiple Instructors: The course is taught in multiple sections either by the same or different instructors using the same syllabus, Canvas page and CEL assignment.
    1. This course qualifies for a CEL multi-instructor designation. All professional development/supply & expenses funding will be shared among instructors in a single account. The course sections maintain their CEL designation, pending periodic review every 5 years.

It is highly encouraged that instructors assess the SLO(s) for undergraduate courses and the student reflection piece for both the undergraduate and graduate courses. Information on community-engaged learning student assessment tools can be found at this link. 

Accredited programs recognized as community-engaged 

UWL houses several accredited programs designated by the Community Engagement Council as Community Engaged Programs. Each program systematically includes community-based experiences for all students in the program through required elements in the curriculum (traditionally through required fieldwork, internships, or practicums). Students develop skills and integrate theoretical and practical knowledge while also providing a service to partner organizations.

The CEL course designation is intended for courses that are not required to include clinical or field-based learning, but still engage students with the community in meaningful ways.

If there are such elective or non-required courses within your programs, we encourage instructors to consider applying for the CEL designation.

Programs Degree
Occupational Therapy graduate
Physical Therapy graduate
Physician’s Assistant graduate
Athletic Training graduate
Public Health undergraduate
Radiological Technology undergraduate
Nuclear Medicine undergraduate
Recreational Therapy undergraduate & graduate
Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management undergraduate
School of Education programs leading to licensure as K-12 teachers undergraduate and graduate
School Psychology graduate