The Faculty Fellows in Community-Based Learning program provides resources and support for faculty to design a new course or modify an existing course to include a community-based learning component. The aim of the Faculty Fellows Program is to expand, deepen, and institutionalize community-based learning at CU Boulder.

Faculty Fellows has been paused due to budget cuts.  We look to re-start the program in the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Want is Community-based Learning? 

We define community-based learning as an intentional pedagogical strategy to integrate student learning in academic courses with community engagement. This work is characterized by reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnerships between instructors, students, and community partners. Critical reflection is also an essential component to enhance students’ learning of course content, understanding of the community, and sense of civic agency.

Benefits for Faculty Fellows

  • Resources: Each Faculty Fellow receives $4,000, which can be used for summer salary, teaching/research materials, funding for community partners, or other appropriate uses, as determined by the applicant and approved by CU Engage Selection Committee, Chair, or Dean. Please note that this $4000 does not include fringe benefits (29%). We encourage faculty to ask their chair or director to cover fringe benefits. If not, there is a reduction in the total amount of the award to cover fringe.
  • Professional development: Fellows participate in a Community-Based Learning Institute in fall 2021 that provides a dedicated process and structure to develop syllabi, assignments, and other tools needed to successfully implement a community-based learning course.
  • Membership in a professional learning community: Exchange ideas and intellectual support with other Fellows at the Institute and beyond.

Eligibility and Selection Process

The CU Engage Faculty Fellows Program is open to all CU Boulder faculty members (instructors, clinical, and tenured and tenure-track) from any department. Graduate students and adjunct lecturers are not eligible. Priority will be given to proposals that are sustainable and integrated into departmental or general education reqirements. We especially encourage teams of faculty to apply in cases where two faculty alternate teaching the same course, where there is a sequence of courses as part of a degree program, or faculty from different disciplines co-teach the same course. If instructors are applying as a team, each will receive the full grant (e.g. $8000 for a team of two instructors).

What to learn about current and past fellows?

2020-21 Faculty Fellows

2019-20 Faculty Fellows

2018-19 Faculty Fellows

2017-18 Faculty Fellows

2016-17 Faculty Fellows

2015-16 Faculty Fellows

Do you have questions or need assistance crafting the strongest possible application?  Please contact Dr. Enrique López, enrique.lopez@colorado.edu, should you have any questions regarding the Faculty Fellows in Community-Based Learning program, preparing your proposal, or setting up an individual consultation.