Center for Community and Civic Engagement

Through designated academic courses, students and faculty engage with dozens of community organizations on projects of mutual benefit. Community-Based Learning (CBL) provides students with practical opportunities to apply knowledge and skills from the classroom in the local community. As one of the College's Signature Learning Experiences (SLE), CBL helps students to develop a more integrated understanding of their studies by providing opportunities to enhance their skillset through practice-based activities that benefit the wider community.

Community-based learning provides an opportunity for students to integrate and reflect on what they are learning in the classroom and how this learning relates to real world applications and experiences.  Students involve themselves with issues and populations often quite different from their own experiences.  Their involvement challenges them to think holistically.  Students begin to understand the importance of being engaged and socially responsible.

Community Based Learning Course List

Into the Streets is an annual day of service that encourages all students to serve, whether it be indivually, with a club, or with a group of friends! Students have the opportunity to work with community partners like ECHOS, Community Cupboard, Girls on the Run, Latino Hipanic American Community Center, and more! Learn more about Into the Streets.

Elizabethtown College’s annual Day of Service is held each spring in March. Day of Service calls for individuals and groups to spend the day volunteering in their communities to provide solutions to the nation's most pressing issues. The Center for Community and Civic Engagement coordinates the volunteer work for this meaningful day of community engagement. Students spend time in the local community giving back. Learn more about Etown's Day of Service.

The Bonner Leader program at Elizabethtown College offers students a four-year opportunity to develop their service, leadership, and civic engagement skills while receiving a stipend for weekly service with a regional community organization. The program supports and trains participants to make a transformative impact on both the campus and surrounding communities, in line with the College's Educate for Service motto. Learn more about the Bonner Leader Program.

Students with Federal Work Study awards have the opportunity to work with local non-profit organizations. Through Community Service Work Study, students develop work experience and make a lasting contribution to the community. Competitive wages are paid.

The Higher Education Act states that one of the purposes of the Federal Work Study program is "…to encourage students receiving Federal student financial assistance to participate in community service activities that will benefit the Nation and engender in the students a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community." As a result, Elizabethtown College joins with colleges across the country to commit to providing community service related placements available to Federal Work Study recipients.

To verify your eligibility for Federal Work Study please contact Financial Aid, finaid@etown.edu, or Leda Werner at the Center for Community and Civic Engagement, wernerl@etown.edu.