CEL-1

CEL-1: Community Engaged Learning 

CEL-1 is an academic requirement that encourages first-year students to meaningfully participate in campus community life. CEL-1 helps students find places of belonging, and deepen their understanding and relationship to race and power. It prepares them to pursue community engaged learning opportunities that address community identified needs in ethical and reciprocal ways. Students

complete a minimum of 40 hours of CEL-1 in Division I including a minimum of 10 hours focused on Race and Power.

How to engage with and fulfill CEL-1?  

The main focus of CEL-1 is becoming an active part of the campus community; this can happen in multiple ways. Students can join a student group or club; participate in a Learning Collaborative; contribute to a campus community project; support their peers with an art installation or research project; and more! 

Race and Power

The Race and Power portion of CEL-1 can be fulfilled by attending Community Days of Learning, among other race-and-power related events. 

Document and Reflect 

Students document and reflect on each of their CEL-1 experiences on TheHub by going to Course/ Evaluations in the Division I Tab and clicking on Community Engaged Learning - “Add Activity” on the left column. Students document and briefly reflect on each CEL-1 activity in this form. 

Complete CEL-1

Students must complete their CEL-1 in order to pass Division I. Students talk with their faculty advisor about how they are fulfilling CEL-1 throughout the year.  Faculty advisors can see students' CEL-1 documentation and reflection on TheHub and can offer feedback and suggestions during advising meetings. 

Students reflect on what they learned throughout CEL-1 in their Division I retrospective essay by addressing the following questions: How did you grow as a member of the Hampshire College community this year? How did your sense of yourself in relation to others grow and change? What understanding and skills did you gain about intersectional approaches to race and power from Community Days of Learning? How did that contribute to your participation in the campus community? 

CEL-1 Opportunities

Not sure where to start? Follow this QR code for more information about the many CEL-1 opportunities happening this semester:

You can also find CEL-1 here: 

• HampEngage

• HC Announcements/Intranet

• Flyers and posters

• Social media

• Talk with students, staff, and faculty

Need Additional Guidance?   

• Talk with your faculty advisor 

• Contact the Center for Academic Advising & Support (CASA) 

• Go to a Learning Collaborative event (https://sites.google.com/hampshire.edu/lcnetwork/home) 

• Go to the Community Commons (CoCo) located in the library off 

of the Airport Lounge (APL) and talk with a Peer Facilitator or CoCo staff. 

Community Commons (CoCo) Staff and Peer Facilitators are available to offer guidance on community engaged learning, summer internships, Community Days of Learning, and the learning collaboratives, among other things. CoCo is generally open the same hours as the Library. 

For more information contact: 

Javiera Benavente (she/her)

Assistant Dean of Collaborative and Community Engaged Learning, jbenavente@hampshire.edu