Community Engagement Fundamentals

Community engagement professionals (CEPs) occupy a distinctive and evolving role in higher education, one that requires a broad base of knowledge, a commitment to ethical practice, and the capacity to lead across institutional and community contexts. This course provides a comprehensive foundation in the field of service-learning and community engagement (SLCE), designed for those who identify as, or aspire to become, community engagement professionals.

Across seven modules, learners will explore the landscape of the SLCE field from the ground up beginning with who CEPs are and what they do, moving through the historical traditions that have shaped contemporary practice, and building toward the principles, leadership strategies, and professional skills that define effective CEP work today. Modules on evaluation and assessment and faculty/staff professional development round out the curriculum, equipping learners to document impact, support colleagues, and contribute to the advancement of the profession.

Grounded in the CEP competency framework, the course emphasizes both the breadth of the field and the diversity of people, institutions, and communities within it. Readings span diverse scholars and practitioners, centering equity and inclusion as core commitments of the profession. Reflection questions in each module invite learners to situate new knowledge within their own professional contexts and trajectories.

Upon successful completion of the final assessment, learners will earn a microcredential recognizing their foundational competency as a community engagement professional.

Course objectives

Recognize the roles, pathways, and contributions of Community Engagement Professionals (CEPs).
Describe historical and contemporary trends in the service-learning and community engagement (SLCE) movements.
Articulate principles and practices for respectful and ethical SLCE
Identify key CEP institutional leadership practices, including evaluation, assessment, and faculty/staff professional development.