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Community Learning Lab

The Community Learning Lab (CLL) creates and supports relationships between the community and the students at the University of Illinois in a partnership that is mutually beneficial in the areas of sustainability, service, growth, and education.

53,416

hours of community service

100+

community partners

2500

student opportunities

Goals and Outcomes

The goals of the CLL are to:

  • Partner with the community to produce outcomes that will enable them to enrich the services they provide, show the impact of their services, and maintain sustainability.
  • Provide students with an experiential learning opportunity that engages them as citizens and enhances their skills and education experiences in a marketable way.
  • Empower instructors to enhance their curriculums and serve vulnerable populations by overseeing the projects.

The CLL was started with grant support from the  University of Illinois Office of Public Engagement.

Community groups are encouraged to apply to the CLL with project proposals at the beginning of each semester. We work with faculty to find an appropriate match and make a concerted effort to facilitate as many partnerships as possible between agencies and classes.

Outcomes

Community Partners:

Submit projects that fulfill your agency’s needs. Contribute to the learning opportunities of University of Illinois students. Grow as a professional through mentoring and supervision.

Students:

Apply classroom learning to real life situations. Become more marketable and begin professional networking. Become an active, committed member of the community.

Instructors:

Assignments turn into a transformative learning experience. Students connect the dots between academics and real life. Classroom conversations become more engaging and meaningful.

Project Proposals

Support the CLL

If you’re interested in supporting experiential learning opportunities through the CLL, contact Nathan Goebel or click below to make a gift today.

View our Annual Report

Check out the 2022-2023 Community Learning Lab report, a brief but comprehensive overview of our impactful initiatives, transformative collaborations, and empowering educational endeavors that enrich our local communities and beyond.

image of report cover
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