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How to design a CEL designated course
Designating a course as a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) course at 海角社区 ensures students gain structured, meaningful opportunities to apply academic knowledge through reciprocal engagement with the community. CEL courses intentionally connect coursework to community-identified needs while fostering critical reflection and civic learning.听听
This guide outlines the timeline and designation process, aligned with 海角社区’s Modern Campus Curriculum system and updated CEL language.听
CEL Course Designation Requirements:
Student-Based Learning Outcomes (CEL-SBLOs)
Student-Based Learning Outcomes (CEL-SBLOs)
Student-Based Learning Outcomes (CEL-SBLOs)听
All CEL-designated courses must include the following outcomes in the class syllabus. Language may be customized but must align:听
- Critical Reflection: Students will engage in personal and critical reflection about their CEL experiences.听
- Academic Integration: Students will relate their engagement experiences to academic content and course objectives.听
- Community/Public Impact: Students will analyze how their CEL experience meets community needs or advances public good.听
- Public Dissemination: Students will communicate their learning to audiences beyond the classroom (e.g., presentations, creative media, reports).听
Dissemination examples: GITA poster displays, client deliverables, blogs, video reflections, symposiums.听
CEL Course Designation Requirements:
Grading, Evaluation, & Reflection
Reflection Activities听
Reflection is central to CEL. It promotes synthesis between classroom content and lived experience. Reflection assignments count toward the 33% grade minimum.听
Acceptable formats include:听
- Journals听
- Guided discussions听
- Online blogs听
- Short videos听
- Group debriefs
Grading & Evaluation听
At least 33% of the course grade must be tied directly to CEL activities, this percentage must be explicitly outlined in the class syllabus. In Modern Campus Curriculum, ensure the CEL checkbox is selected and the grading breakdown is documented.
Examples of CEL activities include, but are not limited to:听
- Community-based projects听
- Collaboration with external partners听
- Reflective assignments (journals, discussions, blogs, etc.)
CEL Course Designation Requirements:
Requirements for the Modern Campus Curriculum Submission
Required in Modern Campus Curriculum Submission
- The CEL-specific course syllabus, (referring to the syllabus you will use for the CEL designated course)听
- The Class Syllabus used by your department
- Paste the four CEL-SBLOs into their designated Modern Campus Curriculum听text fields for transparency and mapping.
- Ensure your syllabus describes:听
- CEL assignments听
- Community collaboration details听
- Reflection structures听
- Assessment and grading alignment听
Other Key Notes听
- The focus is on learning, not hours. Quality of engagement and integration with course outcomes matter more than the number of hours completed.听
- Designation can be added during a course creation or course modification process.听
- The CEL Curriculum Review Committee evaluates all submissions after they pass through departmental and college-level approval chains.听
- CEL activities must reflect reciprocal benefit between students, faculty, and community partners.听
Recommended Planning Timeline
The recommended planning timeline is broken up into three phases, the Planning Phase, the Action Phase, and the Reflection & Evaluation Phase
Planning Phase:
| Phase听 | Timeline听 | Key Actions听 |
| Planning & Consultation: Begin syllabus drafting and partner outreach | Jan 鈥� April (Spring)听 | Meet with Nora Bashir ([email protected])听 |
| Course Design & Prep: Plan community partner collaboration & develop reflection & dissemination activities | May 鈥� August听 | Finalize CEL-SBLOs听 |
| Department Submission:听Select CEL checkbox, provide grading & outcome alignment | Aug 鈥� Sept听 | Upload sample classroom syllabus with CEL components to Modern Campus Curriculum听 |
| Curriculum Review:听Routed to CEL Review Committee | Sept 鈥� Oct听 | Curriculum Process Review |
| Academic Finalization听 | Dec 鈥� Mar听 | Review by Academic Affairs for final approval & Banner designation听 |
| Course Launch听 | Spring/Fall following听 | Course implementation听 |
ACTION PHASE (During the Semester)
When the Course is Running 鈥� Fall 2025 (or Pilot Spring 2025)听
| Task听 | Timing听 | Notes听 |
| Launch course with CEL orientation听 | Week 1听 | Introduce CEL purpose, expectations, course-community connections, and mutual benefits for students and partners. Include CEL SBLOs and project overview.听 |
| Confirm logistics with partners听 | Week 1鈥�2听 | Students are matched or confirmed with vetted community partners. Clarify scope, roles, communication channels, and deliverables. Faculty maintain oversight.听 |
| Prepare students for ethical, inclusive engagement听 | Week 1鈥�3听 | Use classroom sessions, pre-engagement training, guest speakers, or modules (e.g., community context, equity, positionality) to set expectations.听 |
| Begin community engagement activities听 | Week 3+听 | Projects launch, in-person or remote. Faculty coordinate check-ins, troubleshoot issues, and monitor progress.听 |
| Integrate structured reflection听 | Ongoing听 | Use journals, blogs, discussions, debriefs, or creative formats. Reflections should connect to CEL SBLOs and count toward course grade (minimum 33% of final grade).听 |
REFLECTION & EVALUATION PHASE
Final 3鈥�4 Weeks of the Course听
| Task听 | Timing听 | Notes听 |
| Facilitate final reflections听 | Weeks 12鈥�14听 | Guide students in synthesizing experience with academic theory and community insights. Link explicitly to SBLOs and course outcomes.听 |
| Conduct dissemination assignments听 | Weeks 14鈥�15听 | Encourage students to share learning publicly via digital media, campus showcases, class presentations, reports, or creative storytelling.听 |
| Collect community partner feedback听 | Weeks 15鈥�16听 | Use feedback forms, conversations, or partner evaluations to assess experience quality, collaboration, and learning value.听 |
| Assess student learning & document results听 | End of Term听 | Grade CEL-related deliverables. Summarize course outcomes and engagement data for internal tracking and future CEL designation if applicable.听 |
Recommended Resources
The following resources will assist you in designing your CEL course, and going through the CEL designation process
Recommended Resources:
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Phone: (303) 615-1133
Email: CEL Program Manager: Nora Bashir
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