Community Engagement at the College of Liberal Arts

Rooted in the core values of Temple University and aligned with the university’s vision of equity, justice and inclusion, the College of Liberal Arts' (CLA) Office of Community Engagement seeks to facilitate and sustain meaningful connections between the CLA community and local organizations working to better the education, lives and livelihoods of residents in North Philadelphia and beyond.

The Office of Community Engagement provides planning and support for collaboratively designed, community-based projects in order to:

• serve as a hub for the exchange between the local community and CLA faculty, staff and students
• enrich student learning and professional development through meaningful community-based experiences
• foster and sustain quality connections with local community organizations and aligned Temple University offices
• reinvest resources into surrounding communities impacted by long-term disinvestment

Learn more about how you can get involved in CLA community engagement below.

For Students

We’re here to help you find a meaningful learning experience beyond the classroom—whether that’s taking a community-engaged learning course or getting involved in a volunteer project. Check out our upcoming opportunities and volunteer resources below or contact Heather Lewis-Weber at heatherlw@temple.edu to set up an appointment.

For Faculty

The Office of Community Engagement is here to support your community-engaged teaching and research. We can help with the design, planning and/or coordination of a community-based course or with locating suitable partners for community-based activities. Fill out the CLA Collaborative Engagement Tool form to get started.

Resources

• Defining "Community Engagement" (NEHE) 
• Welch, M. and Plaxton-Moore, S. (2019). The Craft of Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning: A Guide For Faculty Development. Campus Compact. 
• Toolkit for Designing Community Engaged Courses (UC Berkeley) 
• Community Engaged Learning Resource Library: Course Development (Drake University) 
• Integrating Service-Learning by Discipline (Willamette University)  

For Community Partners and Collaborators

CLA is happy to partner on collaborative, community-led initiatives for both short- and long-term engagements as capacity allows. We can provide support for existing projects and partner on new endeavors. Please fill out our Partnership Request Form to get started.

Resources

• The CLA Translation Institute offers no-cost translation and interpretation services to local organizations serving children and families throughout the Philadelphia region. Learn more and request services here.
• Pre-college programs are an excellent opportunity for high school students to experience what life is really like as a student at Temple University. With programs for grades 10 through 12, high school students can explore potential majors through noncredit workshops, take undergraduate courses at Temple for college credit, experience residential life on Temple's campus, and network with Temple's faculty and potential future classmates. Partnerships are available with community based organizations to offer scholarships for students. Learn more here.

If you would like to discuss a collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts at Temple, fill out our Partner Request Form or contact Heather at heatherlw@temple.edu.