Campus Life

Commnunity Based Learning

Community Based Learning (CBL) and Community Based Research (CBR) at NDNU are designed to enhance student learning through connecting academic learning and community engagement. It does so by creating partnerships in the community with organizations that help students achieve learning goals while simultaneously affecting positive change in the community. The Dorothy Stang Center for Social Justice and Community Engagement through our Faculty Engagement initiatives provides the infrastructure and resources to institutionalize and support Community Based Learning and Community Based Research by:

  • identifying and maintaining relationships with community partners
  • offering faculty resources for course planning, professional development, and connecting with community partners
  • providing student-led projects with support and leadership development
  • acting as communication nexus for community partners, faculty, staff and students engaged in community based learning

In 2007 the Dorothy Stang Faculty Scholars Program was established for those faculty interested in teaching CBL/CBR courses.  Ten faculty members have been selected as scholars and have participated in professional development activities over the past two years.  The faculty scholars represent NDNU’s three schools, both undergraduate and graduate studies, and ten disciplines.

NDNU has also recently developed the Bonner Leadership Program to engage with NDNU students with a high financial aid need to serve their communities. These student social activists are engaged to volunteer with NDNU’s community partners a minimum of 300 hours per year and, in return, are awarded up to $10000 in financial aid. Each Bonner Leader is trained on effective leadership techniques and is availed the resources to begin to question historical social injustices and to offer solutions for materializing equality wherever the opportunity may manifest.

NDNU has a long history of community engagement, rooted in the university's mission of social justice, global peace, and teaching students "what they need to know for life." We offer nearly 20 community based learning courses, house several student-led service clubs and projects, use the arts as a vehicle for exploring social justice themes through The Center for Social Justice, and recently received a generous grant to apply GIS technology in the community. Come, join us!