Community Engagement and Civic Learning

A Mason Impact (MI) + Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECL) experience provides students with the opportunity to make connections between multi-disciplinary knowledge and community change, to understand their role as citizens of the world, and to act to address challenging global problems in partnership with the community.

With a MI+CECL experience, students have an opportunity to engage in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge, resources, or service in a context of partnership and reciprocity with the community (local, regional/state, national, and/or global). 

Students may engage in:  

  • Application of theory, skills, or knowledge into community contexts  
  • Exploration of ways of working towards social change  
  • Place and issue education to understand community and root causes   
  • Critical reflection on their community engaged experience  

Student projects may come in the form of a:  

  • Community engaged learning and research projects  
  • Capacity building efforts like volunteer management, program development, curriculum development, fundraising, and communication projects  
  • Community organizing, activism, and advocacy efforts  
  • Participation in political processes, policy making, and public governance

Visit the Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECiL) for more information about how to engage in intentional, meaningful, and reciprocal collaborations with community organizations.

STEP community service project
STEP community service project at the Childhood Development Center

Incoming freshman enroll in the Student Transition Empowerment Program to volunteer for a community service project in the Childhood Development Center garden and classroom.

Photo credit:
Photo credit
Evan Cantwell/Creative Serivces/George Mason University