Community-based Learning

Education has its greatest impact when it serves a purpose beyond itself. Community-based learning challenges our students to listen deeply, think boldly and turn knowledge into action — all while helping communities and Bucknell grow stronger together.” 

— Wendy Sternberg, Provost

Executive Case for Support

Some lessons don’t fit inside a classroom.

They’re learned packing weekend meals for children who would otherwise go without. Testing water in a Union County stream. Sitting across the table from a nonprofit leader who has spent decades on a problem students just discovered. At Bucknell, that is where knowledge becomes consequence.

The problems facing our communities don’t arrive sorted by discipline. Food insecurity. Housing. Mental health. Clean water. Solving them takes people who understand both the theory and the people.

Bucknell is building a distinctive model of community-based and engaged learning — one that transforms how students learn, lead and serve. Through the Center for Community Engaged Leadership, Learning and Research, more than 1,000 students a year work alongside nonprofit, civic and regional leaders through immersive courses, paid internships, collaborative research and applied projects.

Not as volunteers. As partners.

Students co-design solutions with communities, not for them. They learn to listen before they lead. They build empathy, practical leadership and cultural humility. And they carry that experience into every career and every community they join after.

Campaign Key Metrics

• More than 20 courses offered across all 3 colleges — every Bucknell student can take part
• This year, 250+ students trained by CCELLR student leaders: Equipped in asset-based community development and humility.
• 2,200+ summer internship hours: Driving local and national impact and career paths.

Strategic Campaign Pillars

• Pillar 1: People & Talent: Endows key center leadership, funds student internships (Local Community Impact Interns & Shepherd SHECP Poverty Fellows), supports student Teaching Assistants and peer outreach leaders, and funds a Food Programs Coordinator position.
• Pillar 3: Innovation & Programs: Sustains the Campus-Community Collaborative Learning Fund, supporting collaborative research grants, CEL/CBL courses , the Community Engaged Leadership Minor, foundational courses and dialogue events.
• Strategic program support: Communities name their own priorities. This fund lets Bucknell answer quickly. Agile dollars respond to needs our partners identify across food security, housing, mental health, education, transportation, energy, economic development, community development and sense of belonging.

Recognition  Opportunities 

• Center $10 million
  • Funding to sustain CCELLR’s operations, partnerships, and student-community initiatives in perpetuity
• Center Director $5 million
  • Funds a key leadership position guiding community-engaged teaching, scholarship, and regional partnerships 
• Community-Engaged Learning Courses $800k endowed
  • Supports course administration, supplies and transportation to community locations
• Community-Engaged Leadership Courses $500k endowed 
  • Funds the community-engaged leadership minor and foundational courses
• Campus–Community Collaborative Research Grants $450k endowed
  • Supports competitive grant funding for collaborative research projects
• Internship Programs $400k endowed
  • Supports unpaid or low-pay summer internships in the local community
• Program Support
  • Funding for student programming, travel, and community-impact projects