Students

What can the TCCBE do for you?

Graduate students – click here.

A. The Community-Based Education (CBE) Program is an innovative approach to experiential learning. It offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to

Presenting at the Knowledge in Action Forum 2009

Presenting at the Knowledge in Action Forum

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.

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. Students who do not meet the above requirements but wish to participate should contact CBE program staff.

Click here for the CBE Program Student Orientation Package Contents.
Click here for  information about the Community Innovation Forum.


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 Garden Harvestersby 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 CSL projects currently underway 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
  • Community host organizations may screen students for relevant skills and knowledge

We also offer opportunities to do a CSL project that is NOT for credit (i.e. strictly volunteer). This opportunity is offered in partnership with Trent University’s Residence Life Program. To learn more, click here.


C. The Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) supports research initiatives between community organizations or topical research groups and university and college faculty. The SRI also provides research project logistics support. The 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. Research projects may occur over a number of years; and once research is complete, both academic and community partners can use it.

What tangible services does the SRI offer? Possible staff roles include:

  • Help define research questions or project ideas
  • Convene stakeholders and post-secondary faculty to discuss project ideas
  • Support proposal-writing and grant applications
  • Project management & coordination including:*
    • Creating a research project agreement
    • Ensuring project is on track and meeting deliverables (research ethics and logistics)
    • Promote projects to students (through CBE program)
    • Encourage and support positive relationships between project stakeholders
    • Enhance projects by linking with our broad community network
    • Suggesting community-based research tools & methodologies
  • Support research completion activities like making presentations, writing publications or strategic planning*

*Usually subject to additional funding

Local organizations or groups are encouraged to contact TCCBE staff with their SRI project ideas or click here for the SRI project proposal form.

Similarly, faculty members are encouraged to contact TCCBE staff with their research interests or if they want to talk about integrating their research program into course curriculum through the CBE or CSL programs.

Students…check out our list of  SRI projects currently underway 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

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: provide supervision, facilities, services and materials.

Faculty/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.

Resource Library: 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
The following courses are a sample of those participating in some way in the CBE and CSL programs from the 2007–2010 academic years. Note: This list is provided for interest and networking purposes only.

ADMN 4820Y, 4830H
BIOL 3890Y, 4020D
CAST 1000, 3810Y, 4770Y, 4810Y
ERSC 1000Y
ERST 3160H, 3250H, 3340H, 3830Y, 4520H, 4830Y, 4840H
GEOG 4020D, 4400Y, 4700Y
IDST 3700Y, 3701H, 3702H, 4220Y
MATH 4850Y
NURS 2020H
PSYCH 4801H
POST 4870Y
SOCI 4570Y/4580H
WMST 4820Y, 4821H