Curricular Community Engagement Opportunities for Students

Members of the Bellarmine University community participate in the Spring in Action volunteer event at various locations in Louisville, Kentucky

 

Curricular community engagement is a high-impact practice which facilitates application of classroom concepts in meaningful capacities. It is possible to integrate community engagement in the curricula of any major or degree program—and we are here to support faculty and students in making that happen. Students can also choose their own adventures in community engagement by registering a nonprofit internship for credit, adding a Plus 1 (BU250) credit to an existing course for 30 hours of community engagement, completing an internship with a nonprofit or government institution, or applying for an Impact Grant.

Experiential Objectives of Community Engagement

  • Reflective Learning: Applies what has been read, discussed, practiced, experienced, and learned, in relation to previous knowledge, to their own lives, and the lives they see around them as a way of making enriched meaning.
  • Integrative Learning: Connects knowledge across fields of study and inquiry and in relation to experiences gained through engagement with community partners.
  • Ethical Practice: Acts in informed and responsible ways to address ethical and social justice challenges.
  • Collaborative Action: Collaborates effectively with community partners to inform future actions and practices.
Abbreviated from the Brown University, Swearer Center for Community, Scholarship, Action.

Additional Information for Students

Community-Based Practicum (30 hours)

Community engagement has tremendous potential to enhance the learning experience of students while benefiting our community. The concept of the “Plus 1” BU250 course is to allow students to add one credit hour of experiential learning to a pre-approved complimentary course by contributing 30 hours of work to a nonprofit partner. BU250 anchors the community-based learning experience to an academic discipline and course learning outcomes that ensure deep and rich learning. To make the greatest impact on both student learning and community benefit, the community-based learning experience should allow students the opportunity to observe, reflect, and engage in work relevant to the themes of the complimentary course.

To register for BU250:

  1. Log into Handshake.
  2. Click "Career Center" drop down menu in the top navigation bar.
  3. Select "Experiences."
  4. Click "Request an Experience" in the top right-hand corner.
  5. Under the "Experience Type” drop down menu, click “BU250 Community-based Practicum.”
  6. Select the term in which you will register the practicum experience.
  7. You only need to fill out the required fields and your employer is the community organization partner. Your faculty sponsor will be the faculty member who is teaching your complimentary course (you’ll want to make sure they have approved supervising your practicum first). And your employer supervisor is the community organization contact who will approve your hours.
  8. Once your proposal is submitted, the Center for Community Engagement will push it through Handshake for approvals and the Registrar will add it to your schedule for the upcoming semester.
Nonprofit Internships for Academic Credit (90 hours)

Internships are an integral part of the Bellarmine experience. The nonprofit and government sector is a great space for students to participate in this kind of experiential learning, with the opportunity to produce marked community impact and pursue meaningful work. Learn more about pursuing internships for credit or reach out to us if you need assistance connecting with a nonprofit or government agency for an internship experience.

To register your internship for credit:

  1. Log into Handshake.
  2. Click "Career Center" drop down menu in the top navigation bar.
  3. Select "Experiences."
  4. Click "Request an Experience" in the top right-hand corner.
  5. Under the “Experience Type” drop down menu, click “Internship for Academic Credit.”
  6. Select the term in which you will register for the internship course.
  7. Please contact Jackie McNatt in the Career Development Center (jmcnatt@bellarmine.edu) if you need assistance identifying the contacts for your internship.
Impact Grants

Impact Grants are available to all Bellarmine University students, faculty, and staff to apply for on an ongoing basis. The purpose of the grants is to provide seed funding of $50-500 in support of innovative initiatives that are mutually beneficial, sustainable, and create positive impact. Students applying for Impact Grants must have a faculty or staff sponsor.

Community Engagement Access Fund

The Community Engagement Access Fund supports a stipend for students pursuing unpaid experiences for academic credit in the nonprofit or government sector of Louisville or Southern Indiana and who demonstrate a financial need. Students can request funds during the fall, spring, or summer terms, which can be used to complete a practicum (30-hour) or an internship (90-hour). Experiences for both Southern Indiana and Louisville will be compensated $15/hour up to the academic hour requirement.

Students must apply for funding by completing this form before the following deadlines:

  • Fall – August 1
  • Spring – December 1
  • Summer – May 1

Applications will be reviewed by committee and award recipients must meet with a member of the Career Development Center or the Center for Community Engagement to review the eligibility requirements and to connect students with community partners in the students' social justice area of interest. Funds will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis.

Student eligibility requirements include:

  • Must pursue the experience for academic credit through your academic department to ensure accountability. Students must verify their experience by completing the Application and Proposal form in Handshake before the add/drop deadline each term.
  • Student must track community engagement hours in GivePulse. 
  • Must complete the virtual Community Engagement Orientation.
  • Must complete timecards to verify employment.
  • Student is only eligible to receive funding one (1) time during their full academic career at Bellarmine.

Community Engagement Access Fund Application

Contact Audrey Alvey (aalvey@bellarmine.edu) for more information.

International Students – Community Volunteering Guide

Community engagement and volunteering is strongly encouraged at Bellarmine and we highly value the collaboration between our university and our local community in Louisville and southern Indiana. During your time here, you may find yourself involved in classes, student organizations, or other groups which require or offer off-campus volunteer activities. You may wish to volunteer your time somewhere outside of Bellarmine’s partnerships.

International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa must make sure that opportunities to volunteer or engage in do not violate rules regarding your student status. Make sure before you participate in an activity that you understand the difference between volunteering and employment. For more information click here.

Contact the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) at communityengagement@bellarmine.edu as well as International Support if you wish to discuss experiential opportunities.