Cultivating Connection

Abstract

Amid growing concerns that college graduates lack key professional skills, community-based learning (CBL) offers a promising strategy to integrate academic knowledge with practical experience. This paper presents an on-campus CBL model implemented in a first-year seminar, in which students collaborated with campus offices to address authentic institutional needs. The projects not only allowed students to apply course concepts and cultivate a stronger sense of belonging, but they also helped them to develop skills for post-graduate experiences: enhanced communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Campus partners benefited from innovative ideas, meaningful deliverables, and enhanced student engagement with their work. The paper outlines the project design, outcomes, and lessons learned, offering recommendations for others interested in leveraging their own campuses as CBL partners.