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 available CBE projects.      

        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.   

Prerequisites:

·         Completion of at least 10 credits

·         Minimum 75% cumulative average

·         Additional prerequisites may be required based on individual departments and instructors

·         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.

Prerequisites:

·         Open to students registered in a course where a CSL project has been set up ahead of time by the faculty member

·         Additional prerequisites may be required based on individual departments and instructors