For our student interest/registration form, click here.

For student volunteer or employment opportunities, click here.

What can the TCCBE do for you? 

A. The Community-Based Education (CBE) Program is an innovative approach to experiential learning. It offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work with community organizations in Peterborough and Haliburton Counties by completing community-inspired projects for course credit. Projects are usually 50 to 220 per-person hours in length.

The CBE program is designed to:
    •   Work with community organizations on community-based research and other identified projects that otherwise might not be completed.
    •   Provide students with experience in their fields of study and enhance future employment prospects.        
    •   Increase co-operation and partnership between Trent University and the broader communities it serves.

    Interested organizations submit project proposals requesting assistance to the TCCBE or U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research (U-Links). These requests are reviewed by a committee of representatives from the community and the University. Once approved, these project opportunities are posted on our website for students and instructors to consider. The time commitment needed for project completion can vary greatly (e.g., 50 or 200 hours).

Check out the academic calender or contact TCCBE staff for more details.

Check out our list of current CBE projects.

Click here for online student resources.

      CBE projects can be carried out as a thesis, a full- or half-credit course, or as an assignment within a course commencing at the beginning of any Fall, Winter or Summer session.
        TCCBE and U-Links staff support students in selecting projects that match their interests and program requirements. Students then meet with the community organization hosting the project to make sure there is a compatible match. After this meeting, students are responsible for finding an instructor to supervise and evaluate their work. CBE program staff assist with these steps, but participation in a course is contingent on the instructor’s permission, and, in some cases, that of the department.
        These arrangements do not always happen in the order described above. With this in mind, students and instructors are strongly encouraged to contact the TCCBE or U-Links early in the process. Ideally, project arrangements should be in place before the start of the session in which the project will be carried out. Students must make sure they are registered for the applicable course at the University and, at the same time, register with the TCCBE or U-Links online or in person. Participating students will be expected to attend regular meetings with the instructor and host organization and occasional seminars offered by the TCCBE or U-Links.

    Prerequisite: Open to senior undergraduate students who have completed ten credits and to graduate students. Undergraduate students must have a minimum 75% cumulative average. Students may be subject to further prerequisites by individual departments and instructors. Students who do not meet the above requirements but wish to participate should contact CBE program staff. Community host organizations may screen students for relevant skills and knowledge.

B. The Community Service-Learning (CSL) Program allows students to get a small taste of volunteering and civic engagement by matching them with short-term projects proposed by local organizations. Students must complete a reflection assignment as part of the learning process. Projects are usually 10 to 20 hours per-student in length.

Projects take place in the context of academic courses. While students are completing these projects they are also meeting course requirements. CSL projects are only available through an existing course. Contact TCCBE staff to find out which course are offering CSL projects this year.  See our list of current CSL projects to get a sense of what a CSL project looks like.

Prerequisite: CSL projects are open to students registered in a course where a CSL project has been set up ahead of time by the faculty member. Students may be subject to further prerequisites by individual departments and instructors. Community host organizations may screen students for relevant skills and knowledge.

C. The Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) is about addressing strategic, long-term community research needs related to issues like poverty reduction, climate change or how to benefit from an aging workforce. Projects usually involve many stakeholders, including faculty researchers at universities and colleges. Research projects may occur over a number of years; and once research is complete, both academic and community partners can use it.

What makes the SRI unique?

• The SRI is about strategic/phased/faculty-involved projects; the CBE Program is about student-involved projects (short and medium-term, usually with one host and one faculty supervisor).
• The SRI is a direct resource catalyst (e.g. co-authoring a funding proposal for further research); the CBE Program is an indirect resource catalyst (e.g. project results used in funding proposal for further research).
• The SRI is a new way for students, faculty and non-academic stakeholders to get involved, this may lead to participation in CBE Program or vice versa; the CBE Program is an established way for participants to get involved.

Students...check out our list of current SRI projects to get a better sense of what we're up to and to see where your interests might connect with a community-faculty involved research project.

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Roles and Resources
The CBE and CSL programs fulfill a community-defined need for a common point of contact with the University and provides an extensive community development network for students and faculty wanting to work with local organizations. Host organizations involved in the program provide supervision, facilities, services and materials. Participating instructors provide academic supervision, grade students’ work and support students in a manner consistent with other University courses. Students receive innovative leadership and career-building experience while applying theory to practice in local community settings. The TCCBE and U-Links develop new projects and support those underway, provide resources and contacts, and facilitate communication among all participants.
        The TCCBE and U-Links each maintain resource libraries that include reference materials about local community groups and initiatives, past projects, community-based research, community service-learning and experiential education. Students or faculty who wish to arrange research and educational projects and partnerships with community organizations are strongly encouraged to contact the TCCBE or U-Links.

Sample Courses 2007-2009
    The following courses are a sample of those participating in some way in the CBE and CSL programs from the 2007–2009 academic years. Note: This list is provided for interest and networking purposes only. This is not a comprehensive list and does not imply that the same courses will be offered in conjunction with the TCCBE or U-Links in the 2009–2010 academic year.

ADMN 482, 483H                                                          
BIOL 3890Y                                                                 
CAST 1000, 3810Y, 4770Y, 4810Y                                 
ERSC 1000Y                                                               
ERST 3160H, 3250H, 3340H, 3830Y, 4520H, 483Y          
FREN 495                                                                    
GEOG 4020D, 4400Y, 4700Y                                        
IDST 370, 422
MATH 4850Y
NURS 2020H
PSYCH 4801H
POST 487
SOCI 457/458H
WMST 383, 443

Student Resources

To view available CBE projects, click here.

For our student interest/registration form, click here.

For the CBE Program Syllabus 2008-09, click here.

For information on how to complete WEPA insurance form, click here.

For information on how to register with Trent University Registrar's office (for CBE project) click here.

Click here for tips about the host informational interview. (i.e. finding out more about a CBE project)

Work-Education Placement Agreement (WEPA) Form

Click here for tips on what goes in your CBE project agreement.