How To Become A Community Partner

Thank you for your interest in becoming a community partner with CSUMB's Service Learning Institute (SLI).

Service learners work in a community that relates to their academic course content and generally are required to serve a minimum of 30 hours over a ten-week period. Service Learners are required to be supervised by community Partner staff member during their service hours.

If you find that this level of commitment does not meet your interests, please refer to the page titled "Other Possible Field Based Placements for Students" in our Community Partner Guide.

If you would like to become a community partner with the SLI, please follow these steps:

  1. Read the complete Community Partner Guide
  2. View current lists of upper division and lower divisionSL Course offerings. As you read through the descriptions please reflect on the kinds of opportunities your organization offers and how they might relate to any of the service learning courses offered.
  3. If there is a course that looks like a good match with the work of your organization, contact the Coordinator of Community Partnerships (831-582-4184) to express your interest in establishing a partnership. The coordinator can help you decide which courses will be relevant to your work and refer you to the professor. It is best to plan ahead. For fall courses, contact us by April. For spring courses, contact us by September.
  4. Attend a Community Partnership Orientation Workshop - Workshops are offered in the fall and spring; these trainings include important information on orientation, supervision, appropriate activities and other best practices. Refer to our online Calendar of Events on our website or contact the Coordinator of Community Partnerships (831-582-4184) to find out about upcoming workshops and events.

Please note that there are a limited number of courses offered each semester, thus limiting the number of enrolled students.

Also, please be aware that it may take time to develop a course and that there may already be existing community partners working with a course.