Community-Engaged Learning & Research
Overview
Community-Engaged Learning & Research (CELR) courses are hands-on, reflective, skill-building opportunities for students to engage with campus and community projects. Through a mutually beneficial exchange with community partners, students apply theory to practice, develop professional experience, and contribute to the public good.
What is CELR?
CELR is defined as a credit-bearing educational experience where students participate in an organized activity (direct service, research, creative process, advocacy, consulting) collaborating with a community partner (organization, industry, business, K-12 schools, local government) for the purpose of mutual beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity (adapted from Bringle and Hatcher (1996) & the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching).
Our mission
Community-Engaged Learning and Research (CELR) holds as its mission the advancement of mutually beneficial relationships between the university and the extra-campus community through community-engaged learning and research for the purposes of education and growth among all involved parties. CELR supports the University of Washington Bothell in its mission to be a “transformational learning community,” and to “serve as a catalyst to enhance quality of life throughout our region” while fostering a “dynamic community of multicultural learning.”
Engage with CELR
There are many ways to engage with CELR, whether you’re a student, a faculty member, or a community partner. See below to learn more about how you can get involved.

For students
Learn more about ways you can engage with UW Bothell community partners while gaining valuable volunteer and career experience:
Different types of CELR courses Enrolled CELR student next steps
For faculty
Explore ways to engage students with community partners through community-engaged research courses and projects:
Track course projects and students Integrating CELR into your course
Partners
Collaborate with UW Bothell to create opportunities to foster reciprocal exchange of knowledge and resources. Learn more about the role of partners in CELR courses.
Information for CELR partners
Courses
CELR classes let you apply what you’ve learned, gain professional skills, and grow your network, all while making a positive impact in our community.
Learn more about CELR coursesAdvising
Meeting with a CELR advisor is easy! Appointments can be scheduled for virtual or in-person. Email or call us at uwbcblr@uw.edu or 425-352-3195 if you have any questions about scheduling an advising appointment.
Schedule a CELR Advising AppointmentRecent Stories

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When a park becomes a classroom
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