COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING? 

Community Engaged Learning (formerly known as Service-Learning at Normandale) is when students volunteer as part of the course.  Your professor may require it, have it be an option, or offer it as extra credit. 

How to register and how to report your hours:

Community Engaged Learning guide for students: Log into your CEL course in D2L to review the Community Engaged Learning Student Guide for GivePulse

How do I get a copy of my hours?

Log into your GivePulse account to download a file- Instructions

Community Engaged Learning Deadlines:  Fall 2025

• Community Engaged Learning Registration Deadline:  Wed. Sept. 17th, 2025 
• Hours ("impact") Submission Deadline:   Wed. Nov. 26th, 2025  

Nursing Community Engaged Learning Deadlines:  Fall 2025

• Community Engaged Learning Registration Deadline:  Tues. Sept. 2nd
• Hours ("impact") Submission Deadline:   Mon. Dec. 8th  

GivePulse Resources

• Normandale uses a platform called  GivePulse to support Community Engaged Learning. GivePulse is a platform to connect volunteers, community organizations, and colleges. 
• GivePulse allows you to tell your faculty member you are doing Community Engaged Learning, connect with nonprofits, report and track your Community Engaged Learning hours, and for your professor to automatically view your hours.  
• If you need help with GivePulse you can reach out to the Center for Experiential Education.  GivePulse also offers email support via support@givepulse.com and has help articles online.

WHICH CLASSES INCLUDE COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING?

Go to the Normandale GivePulse web page and look under the "Classes" tab for a list of the classes offering community engaged learning this semester.  

WHERE CAN I DO COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING?

In most cases your professor will pre-select community partner options. To see the approved community partner options for your class go to the Normandale GivePulse web page and look under the "Classes" tab; find your class. Some professors let you pick other options that are not listed on your GivePulse class page; in these cases you typically should email your faculty member to get approval. 

Community Engaged Learning at Normandale Community College

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING (CEL)? 
Community Engaged Learning (formerly known as Service-Learning at Normandale) is when students volunteer as part of the course. CEL integrates course outcomes with community engagement to enhance learning, develop skills, and benefit the community.

PROCESS:

• Before semester: Discuss goals, setup course in GivePulse, provide GivePulse training.
• Early Semester: Guide students with GivePulse accounts, support student registration
• Mid-Semester: Connect CEL to course content through reflection.
• End of Semester: Verify hours, support and guide student GivePulse accounts, evaluations.

FACULTY SUPPORT:

• CEL outcomes
• Community partner relationships
• Classroom education on CEL
• Help with GivePulse registration
• Liability management
• Reflection activity
• Track and resolve student hours

We invite interested and dedicated faculty members to become leaders in Community Engaged Learning. Please contact ExperientialEducation@normandale.edu.

Community Engaged Learning at Normandale Community College

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING (CEL)? 
Community Engaged Learning (formerly known as Service-Learning at Normandale) is when students volunteer as part of the course. CEL integrates course outcomes with community engagement to enhance learning, develop skills, and benefit the community. The CEL Program aspires to build meaningful partnerships between the college and our community.

HOW TO BECOME A PARTNER

• Reach out to our office to discuss and identify opportunities within your organization where students can be involved
• Create your GivePulse account for your organization
• Guide and support available through the Experiential Education Office and with GivePulse support team to navigate the platform

PROCESS:

• Before semester: Confirm your participation as a partner and update your GivePulse page with current volunteering options
• Early Semester: Students start reaching out for onboarding before registration deadline
• Throughout the Semester: Verify student hours as they submit their impacts
• End of Semester: Confirm all hours by deadline

Please contact experientialeducation@normandale.edu, 952-385-8119 if you would like to participate in the CEL program as a community partner. Partnerships are established based on alignment of your volunteering opportunities with participating classes.