How OSLCE and You Can Partner
Since its founding, the University of Massachusetts Boston has been dedicated to working in partnership with our neighbors in this urban multicultural community. There are many ways that the University and neighboring organizations have been working together, including through Service-Learning and Community-Based Research (CBR). The Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement helps facilitates Service-Learning and CBR, recruits student volunteers and informs students of volunteer opportunities available at community organizations.
What is Service-Learning?
Service-Learning is a teaching practice where students work to serve needs identified by a community as an integrated component of a specific academic course. Students commit to community service and participate in critical reflective thinking and cultivating a sense of civic responsibility. Service-Learning stresses a reciprocal relationship as students, faculty and other community members are engaged in learning from each other.
Some of the positive outcomes of Service-Learning can include:
- Reducing stereotypes and facilitating cultural & racial understanding
- Meeting community-identified needs
- Forming alliances for working for long-term solutions to inequities and injustice.
What is Community Based Research?
Community Based Research (CBR) is research in which community members work with university faculty and students to address a question that the community has identified as something that needs investigation. CBR emphasizes collaborative partnerships where community members’ knowledge is valued along with the specialty knowledge of academics. The goal of CBR is to produce knowledge that will be used for social change.
How can you initiate a collaboration project with UMB?
We are very appreciative when community organizations share ideas for Service-Learning projects or community- based research with us. The Office of Service-Learning can help you connect with the faculty and students who might be best to work with you on the needs or questions that you have identified. You need not have detailed projects worked out before contacting us, please share ideas with us for projects at any stage of development. To reach us, please call Sherrod Williams at (617) 287-7966 or email sherrod.williams@umb.edu