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Why Assessment Matters

Effective Community Engaged Learning (CEL) hinges on intentional, ongoing assessment that captures both academic outcomes and civic growth. When faculty align reflection, partnership, and course objectives, students are more likely to develop complex thinking, apply interdisciplinary knowledge, and demonstrate ethical leadership in real-world settings.ÌýStructured reflection and academic integration significantly boost outcomes like reflective judgment, collaboration skills, and systems thinking—especially when students engage continuously over time [(Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005)].Ìý

Overhead image of hands typing on a laptop with coffee and notebook nearby.

Assessment Support at ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï

²Ñ³§±«â€™s Faculty Engagement and Experiential Learning team sends out pre- and post-course to faculty each semester to help track learning outcomes, confidence shifts, and community collaboration effectiveness.Ìý

We also partner with faculty to:Ìý

  • Align course activities with MSU learning outcomesÌý
  • Design discipline-specific or interdisciplinary rubricsÌý
  • Develop customized reflection prompts and storytelling toolsÌý
  • Interpret survey results for reports or faculty dossiersÌý

Assessment Tools & Rubrics

Use these tools to structure formative and summative assessments in CEL courses:Ìý

  • (Burton, 1999)
    Focuses on aligning learning with service impact and application.Ìý
  • (Bradley, 1995)
    Helps measure depth and criticality of student reflections.Ìý
  • (AAC&U, 2009)
    Assesses civic identity, responsibility, and community knowledge.Ìý
  • (Grande, 2011)
    Designed for online or hybrid reflection spaces.Ìý
  • (Ash & Clayton, 2009)
    A practical guide for moving from abstract goals to measurable learning indicators.Ìý

ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï CEL Survey Insights

Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 Surveys Summary:Ìý

  • Confidence applying academic knowledge increased post-courseÌý
  • Equity-centered collaboration understanding improvedÌý
  • Student leadership and communication skills showed areas for growthÌý
  • Community partnerships were rated highly effective by 78%+ of students

Student VoicesÌý

“This class was amazing! We applied our learning to real community needs.â€
“It helped me understand what client-based work looks like.â€
“The collaboration pushed our projects to be more innovative.â€Ìý

Contact Faculty Engagement

Click the button below to connect with our team

Phone: (303) 615-1133
Email: CEL Program Manager: Nora Bashir

Contact the C2 Hub Faculty Engagement & Experiential Learning Team