Community Partnerships

More than 180 courses at Seattle University each year involve partnerships with nonprofits, schools or agencies. Whether you are interested in research, infrastructure improvement, marketing support or tutoring support, simply working with student volunteers, or another type of opportunity, we are here to connect you.

  1. Center for Community Engagement
  2. Community Partners

Students at St. Francis House

Community Engaged Learning for Community Partners

Each year, more than 180 courses at Seattle University involve students in partnerships with nonprofits, schools or government agencies. These Community Engaged Learning (CEL) courses create thousands of hours of benefit to Seattle Communities and provide transformational learning opportunities for Seattle University graduates.

The Sundborg Center for Community Engagement (CCE) defines "community engaged learning" as a credit-bearing educational experience that applies course material to contribute to equitable solutions of issues impacting one or more communities. CEL courses include reflection activities that integrate students' learning across classroom and community contexts.

Community Engaged Learning (CEL) can take many forms for community partners, and the time commitment involved will vary depending on the nature of the course. CCE works with community partners and faculty members to scope partnerships and determine when CEL courses are a good fit for an organization’s needs and priorities.

CEL courses take place across campus and through courses in every school and college. Whether you are interested in research, infrastructure improvement, marketing support, or tutoring support, simply working with student volunteers, or another type of opportunity, CCE staff are here to listen and connect you. Contact Nicholas Stubbs to get started.

Students work with an organization for a set period of time, usually 18 hours (or 2-3 hours per week) for the quarter. Faculty members provide preparation, discussion, assignments, and reflection to help students connect their experiences with course content.

Students work on a project that meets an organization's need and enables them to practice skills related to their academic discipline. Past projects include research, data analysis, video production, graphic design, marketing strategies, structural design and analysis, software and hardware development and many other types of work.

Research = Resources

The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) supports the development of community-based participatory research projects that engage community members, faculty, students and CCE staff in a shared endeavor to deepen our understanding of social justice issues and develop effective actions and policy changes. We seek research projects that value the contributions of all research partners and support equitable and sustainable development in our neighborhood.

Please contact Nicholas Stubbs with an idea for a project or contact the CCE for more information.

Several tools are available to help make your partnership with Seattle University students and faculty successful. The Center for Community Engagement utilizes the online platform GivePulse to coordinate communication between affiliate community organizations and Seattle University students, faculty and staff. Community partners can post volunteer needs and opportunities on GivePulse that can be accessed by faculty, students and staff across campus.

Setting Up a GivePulse account:

  • View the GivePulse Community Partner Resource page for directions on setting up an account.
  • After setting up an account, follow the group page instructions. The group page is where you'll describe your organization's mission and purpose. You can also include videos and pictures to help Seattle University students and faculty understand your story.
  • Once the group page is created, request to be affiliated with Seattle University. This will allow university members to find opportunities at your organization.
  • Finally, create events that tell students, staff and faculty how they can get involved. Events can be shifts or "open" (students will reserve a spot and coordinate shifts directly with you). Now the broader community can see the best way to get started working with your organization.

For technical support contact support@givepulse.zendesk.com or reach out to CCE Community Partnerships Manager Nicholas Stubbs, or call 206-220-8569.

Community Partnerships In Action

CEL for Partners

CEL for Partners

Each year, more than 180 courses at Seattle University involve partnerships with nonprofits, schools or agencies. These Community Engaged Learning (CEL) courses benefit students and communities.

Duwamish water testing research

Community-Based Research

CCE supports community-based participatory research projects that engage community members, faculty and students to deepen understanding, develop policy and advance social justice.

YesFarm 2017

Resources for Community Partners

Many tools are available to make your partnership with Seattle University students and faculty successful. For example, CCE uses the online platform Redhawk Impact to facilitate opportunities.