Community-Engaged Learning

Community Organizations

Community-Engaged Learning aims to serve as a bridge between the SU campus and Georgetown’s organizations. Our goal is to develop meaningful, sustainable partnerships with community organizations that are working to address Georgetown’s pressing issues.

Southwestern students support nonprofit organizations as volunteers, community-engage learners, or interns. If you are interested in partnering with Southwestern, please contact Dr. Sarah Brackmann at Brackmas@southwestern.edu. 

  • Distinguishing characteristics of community service/volunteerism, community-engaged learning, and internships.
      COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEERING COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING INTERNSHIPS
    Primary Focus Providing meaningful service to nonprofits or community organizations Providing meaningful service and intentional learning Learning by practical application and developing professional skills
    Educational Purpose/ Benefits

    Student

    • Personal/social growth and development
    • Increased awareness of social problems


    Community Partners

    • Immediate needs are met

    Student

    • Academic learning
    • Intellectual growth
    • Increasing sense of civic engagement
    • Deeper understanding of the structural causes of complex social issues


    Community Partners


    • Capacity building to address unmet needs
    • Programs become more sustainable

    Student

    • Career development
    • Practical and hands-on application of skills/knowledge
    • Career networking


    Community Partners

    • Increases organization’s visibility on campus and in community
    • Capacity to complete a specific program or project
    Nature of Activity Based on student’s interest/motivation Based on course topics and learning goals Based on industry or career and learning goals
    Length of Time Usually one time

    Full semester, typically during the academic year.

    • Fall 2020: August 24–December 4
    • Spring 2021: January 11–April 28

    Full semester during the academic semester.

    • Summer -6+ weeks
    • Fall/Spring -10+ weeks
    • 120 site hours
    Partnership Examples
    • Partnering with SU student organizations
    • Participating as a host site for the BIG Event.
    • Spanish III where SU intermediate Spanish students assist in dual language classrooms or ESL programs
    • Social Media Intern
    • Fundraising Intern
  • How do I recruit Southwestern volunteers? 

    Please share your volunteer and internship needs on Southwestern University’s free  HireSU job board.

    These might include the following sorts of activities:

    • Creating digital and other social media content, print program materials, or other methods for information-sharing

    • Undertaking assessment, evaluation, or feedback via phone or web-based services

    • Offering (or compiling, researching, or brainstorming) strategies that provide indirect support from volunteers

    • Working with you to support educational programming for youth and adults

    • Investigating grant or funding opportunities for your organization

    • Developing plans or tools for future program assessment

    • Conducting background research or gathering best practices or other information that will support your programming

    here is a resource to guide you through the process