FAQs

What is the Community-Engaged Classrooms Project?
The Community-Engaged Classrooms Project seeks to encourage and support intentional curricular activities that engage students in projects that address human and community needs. We hope to foster the development of students to be citizens that are socially aware and involved in their community. The Project assists Illinois State faculty with identifying potential projects and establishing partnerships with community organizations.
How will these connections take place?
This website hosts local organization project ideas/needs and contact information. Faculty review the list and if they are interested in learning more about a project idea/need they contact the organization to discuss the details.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Questions should be addressed to the Project Coordinator.
What is the difference between volunteering, service learning, and an internship?
Service-learning, according to Jacoby (1996), is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. The focus of volunteering is on meeting the community need and the focus of an internship is on the student learning experience. This can be understood in more detail in Andrew Furco's Distinguishing Among Service Programs.

What if the project requirements (number of students needed, duration) doesn't fit what I had in mind?
If something sounds interesting to you, give the organization a call and discuss the possibilities. A conversation may generate ideas that neither party initially thought about. Here are just a few ideas…
- Divide the class into several small groups, have each group complete the project; the organization selects the best.
- Turn a small project into a single assignment.
- Split the project into parts - complete one part with one course in the fall and the other with a class in the spring.

Does posting a project guarantee that it will be completed?
No, a project posting may or may not be chosen by a faculty member to integrate into their curriculum. We do not recommend posting critical projects without an alternative plan in place.
What if students do not show up to work on projects for prearranged meetings etc..?
It is important to establish expectations at the start of the project and clearly communicate these expectations to all the students. Students will likely be graded for their participation, so if problems do occur, you should address the concerns with the professor.
What if we have concerns regarding the quality of the work?
You should address these concerns with the professor and/or the students.
How will the students be graded?
The professor will determine the grading requirements. You may be asked for your insights or complete an evaluation form, but you will not be responsible for assigning student grades.
How soon will my project posting appear on the web site?
Projects will not appear immediately. After a project form is submitted, the information is reviewed by the Project Coordinator. If there are questions the Coordinator will contact the organization for clarification. The project information is formatted and posted to the site in a few days. If you successfully submitted a project form and you do not see it on the web site within 3 business days please contact the Project Coordinator.