Resources for Community Partners
Community partner organizations are highly valued at Saint Xavier University. We seek to establish and nurture mutually-beneficial relationships that strengthen your work while also providing meaningful learning experiences for SXU students.
The Community-Based Learning Approach
Community-based learning is different than student volunteerism. Students complete community-based learning projects as part of their course curriculum and receive course credit for the learning they demonstrate through this experience. The community-based learning philosophy is also centered upon mutually-beneficial relationships with community organizations. We do not seek only to send volunteers but to establish and maintain sustained partnerships that fulfill the goals and needs of both parties.
There are a wide range of programs that SXU offers. Examples include student teaching, clinical experiences, internships and service-learning programs. Students' involvement with the community organization varies greatly, depending on the needs of the organization and the students. Examples include: 10 hour/week internships for the course of a semester, 2-3 hour weekly commitments over the course of a semester or "consultant-based" projects where students work off-site to develop a project for the community organization through their course, such as a website or a marketing plan.
Why Partner with SXU?
There are many benefits that community organizations can attain through partnership with SXU:
- Expanded pool of volunteers
- Access to expertise and resources that could be used to help build your organization's capacity
- Assistance with research projects or program assessment/evaluation
- Opportunity for the organization staff to mentor the next generation of leaders
- Opportunity to educate the university community about pressing community issues and to work together to address them
Resources
Contact Information
If you're interested in partnering with Saint Xavier University on either a short- or long-term project, would like to discuss the strengths or challenges of a current partnership, or have any other questions related to community-based learning, please contact Community-Based Learning Coordinator Sara Mehta at 773-341-5889 or sgibbs@sxu.edu.
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