Welcome to Civic Learning and Engagement
The mission of Civic Learning and Engagement is to support partnerships among faculty, staff, students, and the wider community to develop engaged global citizen-leaders through transformational community engagement experiences.
Institutional Definitions
Civic learning and engagement includes “curricular and co-curricular activities that are designed to develop civic knowledge, skills, and values resulting in action that has a direct impact on the quality of life” (FHSU Civic Investment Plan, 2014, p.3).
Civic learning can be developed through a process of community engagement, which is the “collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good" (Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, 2025, para. 1).
This flyer provides institutional definitions of related terms including civic learning, community-engaged learning, service-learning, experiential learning, high-impact practices, and community service.
Advancing FHSU's Commitment to Civic Learning and Engagement
A focus on civic learning and engagement is supported through FHSU’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, specifically though Goal 5: Impactful Partnerships.
Named as a priority of Goal 5, CLE guides the Carnegie elective classification processes. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching sponsors Elective Classifications for those institutions that have made extraordinary commitments to their public purpose. The Elective Classifications are managed on behalf of the Carnegie Foundation by an Elective Classification Central Office at the American Council on Education (ACE). FHSU has been awarded the Leadership for Public Purpose elective classification (2024-2030) and is currently pursuing the Carnegie Foundation's elective classification for Community Engagement. This is a way for colleges and universities to gain recognition for prioritizing and institutionalizing community engagement.
Harnessing the community and campus engagement in the application processes, CLE is advancing the institutionalization of CLE by using the Assessment Rubric for Institutionalizing Community Engagement in Higher Education (Furco et al., 2009). This intentional process of benchmarking, planning, and strategic implementation can advance five dimensions of community engagement:
- Philosophy and mission of community engagement
- Faculty support for and involvement in community engagement
- Student support for and involvement in community engagement
- Community participation and partnerships
- Institutional support for community engagement