Email the team liaison to schedule a meeting about transportation, logistics, on-boarding, and start date (support with scheduling is available at The Shriver Center front desk in the Public Policy Building)
Our 2024 Service Opportunities Chart is an active document, please check-back for changes periodically
Please review the Fall PRAC 096 Syllabus with a staff member, obtain course permission, and register for the course before September 11, 2024 (self-enroll deadline) or October 2 (staff-led enroll deadline)
Connect with us
You can reach out to us by phone (410-455-2493) or in-person (First Floor of the Public Policy Building by the elevators) Monday-Friday, 8:30am – 5pm.
Visit our staff’s appointment calendars to see if something matches your schedule; if not, email staff directly. Meetings can be held virtually or in-person at The Shriver Center. That preference can be determined upon scheduling your appointment. Please review sites below:
Alex Ballard: CHOICE College Night, STEM CX, MS Aquatics at the Catonsville Y, Ascension St. Agnes Hospital, University Of Maryland Medical Center, Shriver Living Learning Community, University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopedic Institute
Most sites happen off campus: some are walkable, some can be accessed via UMBC Transit (free), but many are facilitated by a Community Engaged Learning Site Leader who will drive the group using a Shriver Center van. There are just a few sites that are on campus (Retriever Essentials & Student Ambassadors). Students can also use their own vehicles. Each site is different. Again, please review the Service Opportunities Chart
Suggested Partnerships: Opportunities students might be interested in
Local schools (Arbutus Middle School, Relay Elementary School, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School)
Other institutions of higher education (UMB CURE Scholars Program)
UMBC/Shriver Center collaborations with partnering schools
Non-profits (Esperanza Center; Reading Partners, which is connected to a number of schools throughout Baltimore, Great Kids Farm, BARCS)
Arbutus Achievers, Arbutus Middle School, “End of Semester Celebration,” Fall 2019.
Interested in taking a community engagement course, SOCY 396 in Fall 2024?
This course is offered in both fall and spring semesters and is taught by Shriver Center Associate Director Lori Hardesty. This Fall, class will meet in-person ONLY, Tuesdays, 1-2:15 pm. It is offered for up to 3 credits, and is pass/fail. For those with a course conflict, SOCY 396 will be offered other semesters. For SOCY 396, 096 Prac Community Service & Learning is a co-requisite! The 096 Prac placement must first be established before permission for SOCY 396 will be given.
For Faculty:
Applied learning experiences are meaningful to all stakeholders. In early 2020, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching designated UMBC with its distinguished Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Carnegie defines Community Engagement “by essential elements that inform identities, relationships, processes, and outcomes with external partners.” Key elements are reciprocity and mutuality/mutual benefit.
An increasing number of courses include community engagement to create meaningful experiences for students, faculty, and the broader community. If you are considering including 096 Practicum as an expectation and/or option for your Winter or Spring 2025 courses, please be in touch with the Community Engaged Learning Team as soon as possible to ensure that expectations are clear for your students to be successful in their community engagement. If as Faculty, you are interested in collaborating on a course, at this stage, let’s begin planning for Spring 2025.
For potential new Community Engaged Learning Partnerships:
Community Engaged Learning’s Vision is in alignment with UMBC’s Vision to redefine “excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. We will advance knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds.”
In early 2020, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching designated UMBC with its distinguished Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Carnegie defines Community Engagement “by essential elements that inform identities, relationships, processes, and outcomes with external partners.” Key elements are reciprocity and mutuality/mutual benefit. Community voice was essential for Our Partnership Values, Principles, & Practices.
Diversity of partnerships supports the following student learning objectives for UMBC students:
Increase awareness of community assets and needs
Enhance sense of social responsibility
Increase ability to critically self-reflect and learn from experience
Increase self-confidence and self-awareness
Develop leadership skills
Increase intercultural awareness and perspective-taking
Strengthen interpersonal communication and collaboration
Enhance clarity of educational and career goals.
If you are interested in partnering with the CEL team, please contact Alex Ballard ata87@umbc.edu. Requests received beyond July 26th, 2024will be considered for Winter or Spring 2025 semesters.
