FACULTY: Support for community-engaged learning courses & research

The Centre for Community Partnerships (CCP) supports University of Toronto faculty members who develop and teach community-engaged learning (CEL) courses, as well as those undertaking research on innovative community-engaged teaching and learning experiences.

What is CEL? Read: Community-engaged Learning, defined (PDF). Learn about models and tips for remote CEL teaching in our Community-Engaged Learning in Online Spaces Guide for Instructors (PDF).

The CCP can assist you with finding community partners for your community-engaged learning courses. Please complete a Request for Partnership Proposal (DOCX) and submit it to heather.hermant@utoronto.ca. We typically need a full term’s advance notice to support community partnership development.

We offer the following resources for faculty interested in CEL:

  • A Sharepoint repository of sample syllabi, course design resources, critical reflection tools and specific examples of activities, exercises and assignments that you can implement so that your students make deeper meaning of their experiences. Contact heather.hermant@utoronto.ca for access to the Sharepoint repository.
  • Access to our library of books, journals and manuals and our network of national and international associations and clearing houses. Visit the CCP at 569 Spadina Avenue, Suite 315.
  • A resource collection (PDF) that includes: a bibliography of CEL-related publications by University of Toronto instructors, journals and publishing outlets and professional organizations.
  • A monthly newsletter. Sign up now!
  • Regularly scheduled workshops and events.

In addition, we can support you in the following areas:

Course promotion

We use our campus-wide communications channels—CCP website, listservs, newsletters and posters—to promote your course to students.

Course syllabus consultation

We help you to develop or modify your course syllabus by including community engagement and other service-learning components, and for research advice for your existing practices and courses across institutions and disciplines.

Networking

We provide you with access to our network of community partners in the not-for-profit and volunteer sectors, school boards, and governments in the GTA and Peel Region. We help to broker relationships and to work with you and the community partners to create mutually beneficial learning outcomes.

Contact heather.hermant@utoronto.ca to complete a Request for Partnerships Proposal form. For fall and year-long courses, please submit the form by the first week of May (prior to the course). For winter courses, please submit the form by the first week of September (prior to the course).

Ethics and standards

We liaise between you and the Ethical Research Office to negotiate process and procedures to ensure ethically sound student work in the community.

Learning contracts

Get help establishing learning contracts that meet the needs of the community partner and the students’ learning outcomes for the course.

Risk management

We can advise you on risk, safety and liability, and help to ensure that you, the students and the community partners have a successful community-engaged learning experience.

Contact Heather Hermant, Lead Coordinator, Academic Initiatives to discuss your needs.