Faculty Resources | Civic Engagement

Introducing the Civic Learning Hub

The Civic Learning Hub was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a resource for faculty and students with civic learning outcomes in their courses.  Modules can act as self-contained lessons to supplement other courses, the basis for self-directed learning, or a starting point  for brainstorming other civic engagement activities. It is a work in progress and will continue to evolve even after the outbreak has subsided.

Faculty Resources for Civic Engagement

Faculty are essential to civic engagement activities on campus. In addition to supporting individual students or clubs in their civic engagement activities, faculty can help students understand what academic civic engagement means as a core requirement, and/or integrate CE into their own courses. 

Read on for more information and consider signing up for our "Civic Action Updates" to ensure you always stay in the loop.

Why integrate CE into your course?

  • to enhance student learning of course material
  • to provide an opportunity to apply course content
  • to enrich the course with activities outside of class
  • to offer first-hand experiences
  • to build community-university partnerships
  • to interact with students in another way
  • for your own professional development and skill
  • for your own scholarship or personal enrichment

How the MCCE can help faculty

  • Resources on course design, assignments, activities, student readings, and theoretical foundations of civic learning (Box folder, requires PUNet ID)
  • Brainstorming related to civic engagement in your class  
  • Advising support for the CE Core Requirement (see our CE Advising Cheat Sheet first)
  • Partnership development
  • Help integrating civic engagement into your syllabus
  • Placement assistance for your students
  • Logistical support for CE projects, such as transportation arrangements
  • Financial assistance for students in CE courses (Student CE Mini-Grant)
  • Assessment strategies
  • Course designation process
  • Class visits from MCCE Civic Action Team 
  • Assistance with CE-related scholarly work
  • Financial support for professional development activities related to CE
  • Recognition for CE efforts
  • Troubleshooting, advocacy, and support

Civic Engagement Course Development Mini-Grant 

The Civic Engagement Course Development Mini-Grant ​program is designed to assist faculty in creating or redesigning courses to meet the Civic Engagement Core requirement. Faculty awarded mini-grants will participate in a workshop about the pedagogical and practical strategies appropriate for their course, create a plan for implementation, and develop their course with one-on-one assistance from the MCCE Civic Engagement. This year we are partnering with the Center for Languages and International Collaboration and Center for a Sustainable Society to offer joint CE/IDP/SU/Winter course development workshop. The most recent workshop took place on December 12, 2019. Details of future workshops and grant opportunities will be posted here as they are announced. 

Civic Engagement Community of Practice

Civic engagement is conducive to collaboration, discussion, and support. The MCCE supports a community of practice for faculty, often in conjunction with community partners and staff, to nurture collective wisdom, inspiration, and good cheer related to civic engagement. Please let us know what would be useful for you. In the past, activities have included:

  • CE Summit – This late summer event brings together CE faculty and community partners to network, prepare for the year ahead, and discuss current and important issues related to our practice of civic engagement. 
  • CE Affinity Group – The CE Affinity Group is an informal network of faculty and staff with civic engagement interests who gather periodically to share announcements, ideas, and resources and connect with like-minded colleagues.    
  • CE Reading Group – First suggested by civic engagement faculty, this informal reading group meets periodically to discuss research and other scholarship related to civic engagement. Previous participation is not required and meetings are open to anyone. Suggested readings are typically announced a week or two before a gathering takes place.
  • CE Network – Faculty and community partners both seem to appreciate the opportunity to meet and learn more about each other’s work. The MCCE hosts occasional gatherings to facilitate this form of community-building.
  • Community Collaboration Celebration – With a reception and award ceremony, the Community Collaboration Celebration honors the hard work involved in community engagement. This event takes places annually each spring (typically late April/early May). 
  • Civic Action Updates - Internal CE announcements (upcoming events, workshop and grant opportunities, faculty development resources, etc.) intended for faculty and staff at Pacific University. Sign up here.

General Service-Learning & Civic Engagement Resources

  • National Service Learning Clearinghouse - America’s most comprehensive service-learning resource.  
  • Campus Compact - Faculty resource page of Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents dedicated to promoting community service, civic engagement, and service learning in higher education.                
  • Service-Learning Higher Education Guide - A guide that inspires students to take action that will make a lasting improvement to their community.    
  • National Service Learning Partnership - A national network of members dedicated to advancing service learning as a core part of every young person’s education.
  • UCLA Service-Learning Clearinghouse - Promotes civic engagement to UCLA undergraduates and faculty.
  • Carnegie Foundation - An independent policy and research center aiming to improve teaching and learning. 
  • Center for Civic Education - Administers a wide range of critically acclaimed curricular, teacher-training, and community-based programs in conjunction with civic educators and activists around the world.       
  • Hands On Greater Portland - Connects volunteers with volunteer opportunities that make a meaningful, rewarding change in the Portland area.                     
  • Oregon Campus Compact - Statewide coalition of college and university presidents and their institutions (see other states’ CC websites as well).
  • Oregon Commission for Voluntary Action & Service - Offers ways to support AmeriCorps, volunteerism and civic engagement in Oregon communities.