Learn more about getting your course a Mason Impact course designation
Faculty members can apply for 3 different types of community and civic engagement course designations through Mason Impact:
CL (Civic Learning): Courses that incorporate civic learning into readings, assignments, or discussions throughout the course. Civic Learning includes knowledge, skills, and commitments to interact effectively with others and both participate in and improve their communities and the broader society.
CBL (Community-Based Learning): Courses that have a community-based learning or service-learning component where students engage in meaningful service connected to their course learning objectives and that respond to community identified needs
MI+CE (Mason Impact Civic Engagement): Courses that engage students in the process of asking and answering an original question in partnership with a community organization
You can see more information about these designations on the Mason Impact website. Additionally, we have created a short video on the application process.
Application Process
Applying for the CL and CBL Designation
To be considered as a Mason Impact Course, you will need to submit a syllabus with the following information:
- Mason Impact Logo
- Description of how your course connects with the Mason Impact.
- Mason Impact learning outcomes. Feel free to use our language or write your own. Please make the pertinent objectives are in bold for ease of review. Click here for additional resources on learning outcomes.
To submit your course, you can set up a short meeting with Cara Snider who can collect this information and submit on our behalf OR you can talk to your catalog editor and have them enter this and check the Mason Impact (MI) box in CIM and attach your syllabus.
Applying for the MI + CECL Designation
To be considered as a Mason Impact Course, you will need to submit the following information
1.Syllabus containing:
- Mason Impact Logo
- Description of how your course connects with the Mason Impact.
- Mason Impact learning outcomes. Feel free to use our language or write your own. Please make the pertinent objectives are in bold for ease of review.
2. Narrative (as a pdf file, no more than 4 pages, responding to the following questions):
- What is the rationale for designating this course as Mason Impact + in your desired focus area?
- Explain how this course meets the course criteria?
- How does your course fit into the educational career of an average student enrolled in the course?
- How will student work meet the project criteria?
- How does student learning progress through the course to aid students in the development of the skills needed to complete their project?
3. A project description for the student project
4. Map portions of the student project to Mason Impact student learning outcomes
5. Letter of support from chair or dean (additional letters of support can also be included)
To submit your course, you can set up a short meeting with Cara Snider who can collect this information and submit on our behalf OR you can talk to your catalog editor and have them enter this and check the Mason Impact (MI) box in CIM and attach your syllabus.
Benefits of CECL Course Designations
Benefits for Students
Transcript Notation - Upon completion of a Mason Impact Project, students submit their project to the Office of Undergraduate Education. At graduation, they will receive a notation on their transcript containing the project title.
Mini Grant - Students will have access to apply for a “Mini” grant which awards up to $500 for expenses related to their MI project.
Benefits for Faculty
Course Promotion - Courses with any of the three designations will be highlighted on the Mason Impact and CECiL websites. Faculty may also request a feature on the CECiL social media accounts.
Training – Faculty who teach any of the three designations will have access to additional training and support from CECiL and other professional organizations (such as Campus Compact).
Micro Grant - Faculty are eligible to apply for a “Micro” grant of up to $500 to be used for materials, supplies, class trips or other expenses needed for the Mason Impact course. Faculty are eligible for this grant once an academic year.
Recognition – CECiL can provide letters noting participation to department chairs for possible inclusion in the promotion and tenure processes.