Community Service
Where Students Live: Hilltop, Ellsworth Hall
Course Clusters: see Academic Coursework below
The Community Service Learning Community (CSLC) engages students in a unique combination of activities designed to enhance their academic, social, and civic development. These allow students to experience many aspects of our campus and local communities, challenge their individual and collective knowledge and values, and integrate their academic studies with community work.
Service to Community
Ultimately the CSLC is about service to others. Members are active in multiple types of service to their campus and community, and they are required to complete at least 45 hours of service per semester. Members participate in a weekly service program of their choice so they can select a program that meets their personal, academic, or career interests.
Getting connected with a project is easy! Students select from over 40 programs offered by the Office of Community Outreach and other departments across the University. Additionally, CSLC members do service projects together. As an example, the group organized and implemented an environmental education day for elementary school children in Windham, CT.
Academic Coursework
The issues that communities face are challenging and require in-depth understanding of root causes, social systems, and problem solving. To help maximize the learning of CSLC members, the CSLC is linked to a number of different relevant academic courses. These courses are selected from core academic disciplines in order to support students academic and community interests. They also help students meet general education, major and even sometimes minor requirements! Members of the CSLC are divided into the following experiences:
Fall Semester Course Cluster for Incoming First Year Students:
- INTD 1810, LLC: Community Service; 1-credit; meets Fall and Spring semesters; LC students are automatically enrolled
- INTD 1998, LLC: Service Learning Seminar; 1-credit; meets Fall and Spring semesters, LC students are automatically enrolled
- ENGL 1010, Seminar in Academic Writing with Community Service Theme; 4-credit General Education course; meets Fall semester, LC students are automatically enrolled (**If you received credit for ENGL 1010 in High School or are transferring this credit from another institution, please email livelearn@uconn.edu to let us know as upper level English credit is an option.)
Fall Semester Course Cluster for Returning Students (Sophomores or Juniors):
- INTD 3984, LLC: Civic Engagement Seminar; 1-credit; meets Fall and Spring semesters
- INTD 1998, LLC: Service Learning Seminar; 1-credit; meets Fall and Spring semesters
Please Note: Spring 2009 courses are being planned now with faculty from Sociology, Human Rights, and Human Development & Family Studies.
“Being a part of the Community Service Learning Community was great because it made the University of Connecticut seem just a little bit smaller. It allowed all the members to find their own niche within the university, and was a priceless aspect of attending UConn for me. I am so glad that I decided to be part of the Community Service Learning Community.”
~CSLC Student Spring ‘09
Join us on...
Extra Curricular Activities
Build Teamwork and Leadership Skills
Challenge yourself and other learning community members in teambuilding activities throughout the year! These activities allow students and to get to know each other on a deeper level and support one another while challenging individual and collective limits. With the CSLC, you will work together to take risks and overcome fears in the company of new friends.
“Being a part of the learning community helped me to develop a support system, which definitely helped with my acclimation to the university.”
~CSLC Student Spring ‘09
Community Building
Attend Sponsored Social Events & Activities
On a regular basis, CSLC members coordinate formal and informal activities including group dinners and game nights. Working with the CSLC, you will organize dinner parties, participate in arts and crafts, and grow to be friends with a great group of people.
“I think I have become a more confident leader, a more caring person, and a more active member of the UConn community because of the experiences that I’ve had with the Community Service Learning Community.”
~CSLC Student Spring ‘09
Participate in Unique Opportunities
As a member of the CSLC you will have access to unique experiences. In the past year, CSLC students met nationally renowned author on civic engagement issues, Paul Loeb, and traveled to New York City for a tour of the United Nations headquarters. These first-hand learning opportunities have allowed CSLC students to link academic work with real life experience in a fun and exciting way!
“Whenever anyone asks me about the learning community I am able to tell them how I have gained such great friends and how I have stayed involved in college. I would definitely recommend this learning community to anyone who has an interest in service and wants to be part of a close community. The learning community has made my freshman year of college memorable and a great learning experience.”
~CSLC Student Spring ‘09