Community-Engaged Learning (CEL-1)

Community-Engaged Learning (CEL-1)

Community-Engaged Learning (CEL-1) is an academic requirement that encourages first-year students to meaningfully participate in campus community life. CEL-1 helps students find places of belonging and deepen their understanding and relationship to race and power. It prepares them to pursue community-engaged learning opportunities that address community identified needs in ethical and reciprocal ways. Students complete a minimum of 40 hours of CEL-1 in Division I including a minimum of 10 hours focused on Race and Power. 

How Do I engage with and fulfill CEL-1?  

The main focus of CEL-1 is becoming an active part of the campus community which can happen in multiple ways. Students can join a student group or club, participate in a Learning Collaborative, contribute to a campus community project, support their peers with an art installation or research project, and more!  

Race and Power

The Race and Power portion of CEL-1 can be fulfilled by attending Hampshire's Engage! Conference and community days of learning among other race and power related events. 

Document and Reflect 

Students document and reflect on their CEL-1 experiences on TheHub. To access your documentation, navigate to TheHub and select Course/Divisional Evaluations in the Division I tab. Once there, select Community Engaged Learning and "Add Activity" in the left column. 

Completing CEL-1

Students must complete CEL-1 in order to pass Division I. Each student should speak with their faculty advisor about how they are fulfilling CEL-1 requirement. Faculty advisors can review their students' CEL-1 documentation and reflections on TheHub. What you learned through the CEL-1 process should be incorporated into your final Division I reflective essay. 

CEL-I Opportunities

Not sure where to start? Here are some options for the Spring 2023 semester.

CEL-1 Activities 

Need Additional Guidance?   

• Talk with your faculty advisor
• Contact the Center for Academic Advising & Support (CASA) 
• Go to the Community Commons (CoCo) located in the library off of the Airport Lounge (APL) and talk with a peer facilitator or CoCo staff member.
• Go to a Learning Collaborative (LC) event to find out what is happening in the LCs.

Have more questions? Get in touch!

Community Commons staf are available to offer guidance and connect you with a wide array of opportunities. 

• Assistant Dean of Collaborative and Community Engaged Learning Javiera Benavente (jbenavente@hampshire.edu) 
• Director of the Community Commons Beth Mattison (emattison@hampshire.edu) 

For Transfer Students

Transfer students do not complete CEL-1 at the Division I level, but are required to complete CEL-2 at the Division II level.