Center for Community Engaged Learning

Partnerships with CCEL

The CCEL functions as a connector organization that links students, faculty/staff, and community partners. Our center does not place volunteers. Instead, the CCEL provides resources for volunteers to find opportunities that best fit their individual needs.

Another aim of the CCEL is to provide opportunities for partners to meet and collaborate independently with faculty. An example of an opportunity CCEL provides is the Volunteer Fair at the Ogden Campus Shepherd Union during the fall and spring semesters. Community partners are invited to host a table at these events, giving them an exclusive opportunity to network with students, faculty, staff, and other organizations. The ultimate goal for partners is to find sustainable, mission-aligned partnerships.

How To Partner

 

Apply to be a partner
Apply to be a Partner

Fill out the required fields and submit your application. The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) will review your application and contact you. A response to your application may take up to two weeks.
Log Student Hours
Submit a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Upon application approval, the CCEL will require the submission of an MOU, which outlines the terms of being a community partner. An MOU is an at-will agreement and can be terminated by either party with a 30-day notice.
Request a community engagement report
Official Partnership

After you have submitted an MOU, your organization will become an official community partner with Weber State University (WSU). A copy of the completed MOU form can be provided by email at any time, upon request.

Why Become a Registered Community Partner?

Becoming a registered community partner with the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) signifies that your organization offers quality community engagement opportunities for volunteers. Weber State University students, faculty, and staff are assured that your organization offers a safe environment to volunteer. In addition, volunteers know your mission and aims are in alignment with the highest standards. Community partners receive exclusive benefits through their partnership with the CCEL. Benefits vary by tier. The tiers and their corresponding benefits are broken down below.

BENEFITS CUBS
PARTNERSHIP
Wildcat
PARTNERSHIP
PURPLE PRIDE
PARTNERSHIP

Post events on the CCEL events calendar
Advertising one-time events in GivePulse is fast and easy. Partners can post their events on all calendars.

Access to bulletin boards
Your organization can post flyers advertising volunteer positions on our bulletin board located in the Shepherd Student Union Building. The CCEL’s board is well maintained in order to ensure that volunteer opportunities don’t become lost under non-service opportunities such as roommate want ads.

Invitation to Block Party
Each fall, WSU hosts an organization promotion event so large it has to be held outdoors. As an active partner with the CCEL, your organization can be one of the first in the school year to generate name recognition and recruit quality volunteers. Spots are limited and will be set aside on a first come first serve basis.

Training modules
Training modules are provided by the CCEL in order to ensure that volunteers are well-prepared even before their first day of service. Your organization can require that volunteers complete one or more of the Community Engagement Training Modules.

Semesterly communications
The CCEL keeps your organization current by highlighting upcoming events and opportunities. Semesterly communication may also contain articles on topics ranging from how to work with faculty to best practices for volunteer retention.

Access to work-study students
Work-study is a federally-funded program that allows non-profits to hire part-time, qualifying students at 25% of the cost of a typical employee (for example: a student working for $8 an hour would receive $6 per hour from the government and $2 from the participating non-profit). The number of positions is limited and requires a contract with Weber State University.

Community partner breakfast
Each fall, the CCEL hosts an appreciation breakfast for our partners. This is the premier event for us to appreciate your partnership, and for you to meet faculty and learn about upcoming developments in the CCEL.

Invitation to the bi-annual Volunteer Fair
The Volunteer Fair is one of the most productive ways to recruit new volunteers for your organization. Participating partners are provided breakfast, a table, chairs, and electrical hook-ups in the atrium of the Shepherd Student Union Building at Weber State. Our bi-annual volunteer fair is held sometime during the months of January and September.

Eligible to participate in community-engaged leaders program 
You will have access to the CCEL student leaders on campus. Weber State University Community Engaged Leaders student leaders receive funds to help plan, develop, and execute events for your organization. Community Engaged Leaders student leaders also actively recruit other students to volunteer at these projects. Every event is tailored to your organization’s specific needs and can include: volunteer days at your organization, campus awareness events, and fundraisers, to name just a few.

Priority registration to the bi-annual Volunteer Fair
Wildcat and Purple Pride partners will be made aware of the volunteer fair 1 week before it is open to all community partnerships. Spots for the event are limited.

 

Priority registration to Community Partner/WSU Faculty Speed Networking event
Get the opportunity to meet with WSU faculty members to exchange information and become acquainted with one another for the purpose of being able to provide high-impact experiences for students to participate in.

 

Invite to annual CCELebration and Community Engagement Symposium
The service symposium presents the results of students' direct service, civic engagement, and/or research in the community.

   

Organization-specific AmeriCorps request*
Purple Pride level partners receive access to AmeriCorps students as well as priority reservation for AmeriCorps positions at their organization. Typically, AmeriCorps positions are competitive because Weber State University supports a finite number of participants each year. Priority reservation means that your organization can request a number of these positions before they become scarce. Organizations are responsible for finding students who wish to participate in AmeriCorps and ensuring that they attend the mandatory orientation at the beginning of each semester (January/September). Contact CCEL for more information.

   

*Some restrictions apply. Contact the CCEL for details.

When you partner with the CCEL, we can help you recruit by:

  • Connecting you with faculty and students to address specific needs.
  • Posting your upcoming needs on our website and social media. 
  • Providing you access to post your volunteer needs in GivePulse, a tool used by WSU students, faculty, and staff to find ways to connect to and volunteer within the community.
  • Inviting you to participate in biannual volunteer fairs, speed networking events, and community partner training workshops.
  • Community Partners have potential access to the Community Engaged Leaders program wherein student leaders will help recruit volunteers for targeted events.

Qualifications for Partnership

QUALIFICATIONS CUBS
PARTNERSHIP
Wildcat
PARTNERSHIP
PURPLE PRIDE
PARTNERSHIP

Participate in a bi-annual survey conducted by the CCEL
To better serve our partners, the CCEL conducts an assessment each Spring. Feedback from the assessment helps CCEL staff to evaluate past services and develop new resources.

Maintain information for our website including the current volunteer contact
Partners are responsible for keeping their information up-to-date. Obsolete contact information can often prevent students from contacting their community partners of choice. Expired volunteer opportunities frustrate students and waste the time of both parties.

Participate in a formal site visit if requested
The CCEL may request a site visit in order to become familiarized with your organization’s services. Site visits generally last anywhere between 20-40 minutes and can be adjusted to fit availability.

Successfully partner for 1 full calendar year at the Cub level
“Successfully partnering” means complying with all the requirements of a Cub-level partnership.

 

May be asked to host a day of service (Max 1 per year)
The CCEL sponsors four days of service each year: WSU's Service Day of Remembrance (September), Make-A-Difference Day (October), Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Service (January), and WSU Makes a Difference in Ogden (May). Hundreds of students volunteer these days, offering a singular opportunity to complete large projects. Smaller groups of 15-25 students are also available.

 

Attend training on volunteer management *
To qualify for Wildcat and Purple Pride tiers, partners must attend and complete the Volunteer Management training. To maintain your Wildcat or Purple Pride status, someone at your organization, preferably the volunteer coordinator, must have completed the volunteer management training.

 

Successfully partner for one full calendar year at the Wildcat level
“Successfully partnering” means complying with all the requirements of the Wildcat-level partnership.

   

Be willing to serve on, at least, one CCEL committee if requested
Individuals from our partnerships can serve on four different committees: Hall Endowment for Community Outreach Committee, Awards Committee, CEL Curriculum Committee, and the Scholarship Committee. Each committee holds approximately 2-5 meetings each year.

   

Be willing to host faculty/staff meetings if requested
From time to time, the CCEL chooses to host meetings at a community partner site. One situation where on-site meetings are preferred is when faculty are being trained on how to incorporate community-based learning into their classes. Meeting at a partner site helps faculty get a feel for the atmosphere in which their students will be serving and allows them to learn about partner needs directly from the partners.

   

Partner with at least one CEL faculty member
Partnering with a faculty member is not the same as simply accepting students from university classes. A partnership is an intentional joint venture between you and a WSU faculty member. Both parties will work together to craft a service project that suits the needs of the community partner as well as the learning outcomes of the faculty member. This can be a short, one-time project or an endeavor spanning several semesters. A successful partnership will be evaluated by the CCEL with input from the cooperating community partner, faculty, and CEL students.

   

Assume a co-educator role in student education
Assuming the co-educator role in student education means that you are partners with the faculty for not only the volunteer service but also for the education of the student. When the students are learning in the classroom, the professor is the educator. When they are learning at your site, you are the educator. Hands-on experience in applying the skills and knowledge students learn in class to serve the community can greatly enhance their learning and opportunities for the future. This will be evaluated by the CCEL with input from the cooperating faculty, community partner, and CEL students.

   

*Not required if the current volunteer coordinator/manager has already participated in the training.

Partnership Timeline

January - December January February March
  • Site visits may be requested by Community Engagement Coordinator.
  • Site visits will be available through Zoom, Partner sites, or Community Education Center
  • Spring Volunteer Fair
  • Community Partners will be notified by email of the MOU renewal process.
  • MOUs are due by Community Partner Appreciation Breakfast
  • CCELebration and CE Symposium
June July August September

Annual MOU renewal begins

  • All MOUs are due by the Community Partner Breakfast
  • Partners failing to renew must re-apply for partnership

Annual Community Partner Appreciation Event RSVP

  • CCEL will email and mail community partner invites
  • Community Partner Appreciation Event
  • Signed MOUs due
  • Speed Networking Event
  • Block Party
  • Fall Volunteer Fair

TBD: Volunteer Management Training dates to be provided as more information becomes available.

 

The CCEL: Engaging Students, Faculty, and You

Engaging Students

CCEL provides methods for partners to engage students that include tabling events, classroom visits, and GivePulse (an online/phone app that allows you to post volunteer opportunities). Please work with the CCEL staff for support.

Engaging Faculty and Staff

A notable way for faculty to get involved is to designate their course as CEL. Students in these classes will apply what they are learning in the classroom to learn and address the social issues that exist in the community. Please work with the CCEL staff to connect with courses that align with your needs. 

Engaging Community Partners

The CCEL partners with non-profits and government agencies to provide community engagement opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. Partners are encouraged to fulfill a co-educator role by helping students learn civic values and opportunities to enhance their education.

GivePulse (Student and Community Engagement Software)

Your Partnership is Important

Weber State University (WSU) could not accomplish so much without the dedication of its community partners. It is the Center for Community Engaged Learning’s (CCEL) goal to ensure that community partners remain updated on all relevant opportunities and changes on and off campus. While the CCEL cannot guarantee volunteers, its staff members strive to advertise to, and educate, as many individuals at WSU as possible. If at any time you have questions about your partnership, or should you have a special need for volunteers, please do not hesitate to contact the CCEL.

Please contact Sandra Baltazar, community engagement coordinator, with any questions or concerns at 801-626-7737 or sandrabaltazar@weber.edu