Community Engaged Learning FY 2026

About PRAC: Community Engaged Learning, & How to Get Started!

The 096 Community Engaged Learning Practicum allows for students to engage in weekly service and reflection through the enrollment of a zero-credit, pass/fail course.

Staff work closely with students to choose their service sites based upon their passions, goals, interests and availability. Currently, the Shriver Center has community partnerships with organizations that focus on various issue areas that serve diverse populations. These include, but are not limited to, animal welfare, education, the environment, food and housing access, healthcare and mental health. Please note that we will continue to update our service chart as new information becomes available (Sites fill, updates on orientation, etc.)

Additionally, there are many opportunities to gain leadership skills through community engagement. Service-Learning Student Leaders guide volunteers in weekly service, facilitate reflection sessions, and foster a positive service-learning experience. Student Leaders receive on-going support from Shriver Center staff and their peers and benefit from bi-weekly training meetings.

Enrollment & Onboarding Process:

For the enrollment process to go smoothly, students must complete these steps in order! Practicum 096: Community Engaged Learning is a permission-based course. This means permission must be granted by the instructors via Peoplesoft. Only after completing the following steps will students be granted permission.

 

Below is the Community Partner Chart for PRAC 096. Please pay careful attention to the following fields:

  • Transportation
  • Volunteers Needed
  • Days/time

Why these fields? In almost all cases, the information here is rigid – meaning, there is no flexibility in the days/times of service; transportation available (or not available); and # of spots for interested students (if the site is full – it’s full!).

Please be careful and make sure that the times the site is active, is also a time you can be active. 

Account for the time of transportation – whether that’s walking from your class to the Commons, or driving to the partner site from home or campus.

Please note – students enrolled in FYS 102, MLL 306, and ENGL 386 have pre-approved partners. Please refer to the following links and identify your top 3 choices from these charts.

Lastly – some sites require training over UMBC’s winter session. A cut-off date will be indicated in the partner chart.

 

Fall is a wrap – hello Spring!

We are no longer placing or enrolling students for Fall 2026. To let us know your interest in service, or to get a head start, please complete the Winter/Spring survey below.

Survey troubleshooting:

  • After hitting “submit,” do not close the window/tab. Please wait a few seconds – you are being rerouted to staff booking pages!
  • If the survey is not displaying below, try clearing your cookies, or open the survey (linked here) in an incognito window.
  • Not seeing a community partner listed? This community partner may be full – double check the partner chart.

Please only meet with staff after completing the placement survey.

Find scheduling calendars of CEL staff liaisons here. Please book the appointment while logged into your UMBC email!

In your meeting, the CEL staff member will finalize your community partner for the semester; review the course syllabus; grant permission to enroll in the appropriate section of PRAC 096; and walk through the unique onboarding/training for your community partner.

Running into trouble? Check our FAQ page.

As noted, this is the final step!

After meeting with your CEL staff liaison, you will be granted permission to enroll in PRAC 096. A confirmation message will be sent automatically to your UMBC email; in this message will also be the course number for your section of PRAC 096.

Permission to enroll/add/drop expires 11:59 pm Friday, September 4th 2026. If you missed this date, please reach out to your CEL staff liaison.

Connect with us

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
    • Alex’s calendar appointment page or email directly at alexballard@umbc.edu
    • Emily Passera: Arbutus Achievers & Arbutus Homework Help, Best Buddies, Columbia Community Pantry, Catonsville Elementary School, Creative Coders, Helping Up Mission, Relay Elementary School, Shriver Living Learning Community, Sisters Academy, Student Ambassadors with Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School, Walden Circle.
    • Emily’s calendar appointment page or email directly at epassera@umbc.edu
    • Emily Paul: Access Art, BARCS, Baltimore Community ToolBank, Esperanza Center, Great Kids Farm, Filbert Street Garden, International Rescue Committee, Johns Hopkins Hospital – Meyer 3, Multilingual Welcome Center, Morrell Park Elementary/Middle School, Paul’s Place & After 3 with Paul’s Place, Reading Partners, Retriever Essentials, Shriver Living Learning Community, Southwest Emergency Services (SWES), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
    • Emily Paul’s calendar page, or email directly at empaul1@umbc.edu
  • 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.

  • 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.

This course is offered in both fall and spring semesters and is taught by Shriver Center Associate Director Lori Hardesty.  In Spring 2026, 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 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 2026.

 

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 the creation of Our Partnership Values, Principles, & Practices.   These are reflected in the Partnership Agreement that must be reviewed, and completed prior to the start of the semester, which at this time would be Winter/Spring 2025.

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 at a87@umbc.edu.  New requests received will be considered for 2025.