Office of Global and Community-Based Learning (Academic Service-Learning)
The Office of Academic Service Learning is being rebranded the "Office of Global and Community-Based Learning."
Under this new title, it will continue to support credit bearing community-based engaged learning opportunities as part of the University's broader commitment to the Omaha community. It will also focus on assessment of global learning and support grant-writing to expand resources available to the Creighton community to support global engagement.
Please contact Lizzy Curran (LizzyCurran@creighton.edu), Director of Global and Community-Based Learning, if you have questions about your AcSL-designated course or are interested in obtaining that designation in the future.
The Office of Global and Community-Based Learning connects academic courses with local and global community partners to enhance academic learning, meet community-identified needs, and foster civic perspectives through engagement and reflection.
The Office collaborates with the Center for Faculty Excellence in supporting faculty in obtaining the "Academic Service-Learning Designation" (AcSL) for their courses. Academic service-learning is an experiential educational strategy that integrates community service into academic courses so that learning is enhanced and community partners receive concrete benefits. Students study, serve and reflect on their experience in order to deepen their appropriation of knowledge.
Whether you are a student, faculty member, or community partner, the Office of Global and Community-Based Learning is here to help you find opportunities to engage and learn with the community!
Community Partnerships
Partnering with Creighton to support one or more of our academic service learning classes offers community-based organizations the opportunity to draw on the talents, time, and knowledge of Creighton students and faculty.
Rooted in the concepts of mutuality and collaboration, community partners act as co-educators for our students, sharing your knowledge of complex social issues with them and mentoring them in the kind of world-changing work that you do. This mutuality and collaboration it is at the core of how Creighton’s Office of Academic Service Learning seeks to structure our academic service learning partnerships.
Becoming a Community Partner
Interested in forming a partnership with Creighton's academic service learning program? Do you have a project idea that you think would be a good fit for Creighton students? Are you just looking for student volunteers?
Complete our Community Partnership contact form and we'll be in touch with you to get your idea out to the Creighton community!
What to expect from Academic Service Learning
An academic service-learning partnership is generally characterized by the following:
- Creighton students serve with partner organizations up to 40 hours over an approximate 10-15 week period in spring, summer or fall semesters.
- Creighton students serve with a variety of nonprofit and/or public organizations, with a special emphasis on those organizations which embody a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.
- Student service can take several forms.
- Student service must be connected to the academic content of the class.
- Student service is aligned with the academic learning goals of the class in order to facilitate deeper, richer learning.
- Academic service learning should advance student learning and your organization's priorities.
