The Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Course Development Grant supports faculty across all disciplines in designing CEL courses that foster sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships with community organizations while enhancing student learning using experiential and applied teaching methods. Grantees will receive individual administrative support and CEL guidance from OCP staff, while building community and learning with other grantees in workshop settings.

The first year of the program is dedicated to understanding knowledge about CEL and developing community partner relationship(s) with co-created goals that inform a new CEL course. The second year is dedicated to the planning and implementation of the course, with the option of continuing as mentor in a community of practice for new grantees in the third year.

 

Program Goals

  • Develop new CEL courses or convert current courses that align with institutional CEL course “E” designation guidelines
  • TCORE, TUNIV, 100 and 200 level courses are especially welcome for their contributions to increasing student retention and improving equitable access to high-impact, experiential learning in students’ first and second years.
  • Build strong, lasting, reciprocal relationships between faculty and community partners
  • Advance community-engaged pedagogy in every discipline
  • Create and grow a faculty focused, peer support network with regular connections to OCP staff and experienced CEL faculty 

To further program goals, applicants must:  

  • Be faculty members eligible to develop and teach new courses or convert current courses
  • Design courses in alignment with institutional “E” designation guidelines
  • Commit to participating program activities and timeline
  • Be willing to collaborate with and be accountable to community partners, grantee cohort, and OCP staff

 

To Apply

Step 1:  Submit a brief letter of intent by emailing Layla Taylor, Project Manager, Capacity Building for Community Engagement by July 1, 2026
Step 2:  Submit online application (coming soon) by September 20, 2026

 

Funding Details

Number of awards:   5 grants awarded per year
Award amount:  $500 in year 1 in compensation for course and partnership development.  Additional $500 in year 2 to support costs for course implementation.
Total funding: $1,000
Funding period:  2026-2027 + 2027-2028 academic years 
Total duration: Up to 2 years 

Year 1:  Compensation (2026-2027)
$500 in compensation will be distributed to the grantee upon receipt of the CEL course “E” designation aligned syllabus.  

Year 2: Course Costs (2027-2028)
$500 in grant funds may be used to directly support CEL course learning outcomes and partnership development.

Allowable expenses:

  • Community Partner Support: honoraria (for community partners as guest speakers; must have an SSN and must be paid as individuals, not as an organization or business representative.  Cannot be a UW Employee or student); cost of services or supplies provided by community partners 
  • Materials & Equipment: purchases of materials, equipment, software, printing for posters or flyers, or subscriptions 
  • Supplies (for end-of-quarter poster sessions, other course events, or community meetings) 
  • Food (for meetings, trainings, or recognition and if approved per the UW Food Approval Policy) 
  • Reservation fees for public exhibits or events 
  • Entry fees associated with visiting museums, community partner sites, etc.  
  • Travel to/from community partners sites (for community partner, faculty, or students) 
  • Room rentals for meetings and events 
  • Curriculum & Professional Development: registration for CEL related conferences and trainings (for community partner, faculty, or students) 
  • Other expenditures that support a faculty’s CEL pedagogy 

Non-allowable expenses: 

  • Scholarships, awards, gifts or prizes 

  • Faculty course release time 

  • General equipment (laptops) not directly used for the course 

Grantee Expectations

Year 1:  Partnership and Course Development (2026-2027):

  • Develop and deepen community partner relationship and co-create mutually beneficial goals and outcomes 

  • Develop a new CEL course and syllabus in alignment with CEL course “E” designation guidelines

  • Participate in 3 check-ins with OCP staff (beginning, middle, end) 

  • Participate in 3 grantee cohort workshop sessions 

  • Collaboratively develop a course approval and implementation timeline for Year 2 with OCP staff  

  • Present syllabus and implementation plan to grantee cohort and OCP staff 

  • Work with OCP staff to draft application and submit course for “E” designation curriculum review at School and campus levels.   

  • [Optional] Explore use of  Community Connect UW (CCUW) for course organization and tracking for project-based or placement-based opportunities 

  • Receive $500 in compensation for course and partnership development 

Year 2:  Course Planning and Implementation (2027-2028): 

  • Implement course within the academic year 

  • Continue OCP staff check-ins as needed 

  • Participate in 2 grantee cohort peer support and sessions (beginning and end of year) 

  • Work with OCP staff to complete UW Tacoma’s “E” course designation application process through APCC

  • Involve partner in relevant course assignments, timelines, activities and assessment and maintain consistent communication 

  • Incorporate in-class orientation to prepare students for ethical community engagement 

  • [Optional] Build, test, and utilize Community Connect UW (CCUW) (if applicable) 

  • Receive additional $500 to fund course-related expenses to support first course implementation 

2026-2028 Commitments
Participation in OCP staff quarterly check-ins and grantee cohort sessions 

  • Co-create goals and outcomes, maintain active communication and accountability with community partner 

  • Teach CEL course at least once 

  • Complete UW Tacoma’s “E” course designation process through School and APCC 

  • [Optional] Complete Community Connect UW (CCUW) platform build out  

2026-2028 Deliverables  
Evidence of community partnership development 

  • Completed new CEL course syllabus 

  • Implementation plan and timeline 

  • CEL course “E” designation application  

  • Presentation of course syllabus to cohort  

  • Course implementation 

[Optional] Year 3:  Mentoring and Community of Practice 

  • Participate and shape a peer community of practice for CEL teaching and learning 

  • Mentor and advise future CEL grant recipients 

  • Share best practices and lessons learned  

Timeline - exact dates TBD

Year 1:

Summer & Pre-Fall (July-September) - Review & Award

  • July 1: letter of intent due

  • September 20:  Applications due

  • Selection and award of 5 grantees for 2026-2028 cohort

Fall (October-December) - Orientation & Ideation

Cohort Activities

  • Grantee cohort workshop #1: onboarding and community building

  • Initial check-in meeting with OCP staff

Individual Activities

  • Draft course concept and syllabus outline

  • Identify and begin outreach to community partners

  • Develop partnership plans

  • Continue syllabus development

Key Milestone

  • Completion of draft course concept

Winter (January-March) - Course Design & Curriculum Development

Cohort Activities

  • Grantee cohort workshop #2: syllabi and partnerships

Individual Activities

  • Continue course and curriculum development

  • Refine partnerships with community collaborators

  • Submit syllabus draft for feedback

Key Milestone

  • Completed syllabus draft and partnership plan

 

Curious? 
Reach out to Layla Taylor, Project Manager, Capacity Building for Community Engagement, with your questions and ideas.