Office of Community-Based Learning
Contact Us:
- Office of Community-Based Learning
- Scranton, PA 18510
- The ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ
- cbl@scranton.edu
Office of Community-Based Learning
The Office of Community Based Learning coordinates community based learning activities and provides development and support resources for ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ faculty through grants, workshops, and curriculum development. Community Based Learning (CBL) is an academic experience that involves students working with individuals, groups, or organizations in ways structured to meet community-defined needs.
In keeping with the Jesuit, Catholic mission of The ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ, CBL incorporates a global perspective and understanding through integration of theory with practice, direct engagement with community members and personal and critical academic reflection. Community-Based Learning prepares students to understand common challenges facing humanity, identify systemic problems, and develop a commitment to their communities, especially “people who live and work in poverty, illness, inequality, hopelessness, and other social disparities.”
Community-Based Research (CBR) involves faculty, students and community partners in the research process and recognizes the unique contributions of each. Research is action-oriented and focused on concerns relevant to the community. There is a reciprocal transfer of knowledge, skills and capacity to sustain a long-term commitment.
The Office of Community Based Learning works with our community-partner agencies to identify projects that foster mutually beneficial collaborations between the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ and the greater Scranton community. Faculty are encouraged to view our list of suggested CBL/CBR options. Contact Debra L. Fetherman, PhD, CBL Faculty Coordinator at debra.fetherman@scranton.edu to review the basics of teaching/leading a CBL course and/or project. Contact either Julie Schumacher Cohen, CBL Chair at julie.cohen@scranton.edu or Daysi Carreto, Assistant Director of Community and Civic Engagement at daysi.carreto@scranton.edu, to learn more about community partnerships.
As Faculty prepare for fall courses, we encourage all to utilize our compilation of CBL Anti-Racism Resources. The page linked below comprises a variety of resources, including from the AJCU network, Campus Compact and other partners, on how to work toward anti-racism in the context of community-based learning and community engagement, including teaching tools, academic articles, and local organizations. This is not a comprehensive list of resources, as we are still learning ourselves. Faculty with suggestions for additional resources, can contact daysi.carreto@scranton.edu to suggest additional resources.