CECE @ BC

Put simply, there are many ways for students and faculty to engage with their community and with civic issues, both as a part of and as separate from their classes. The RISE Learning Institute‘s Community-Engaged & Civic Education (CECE) program supports instructors, students, and programs looking to connect to the community while at Bellevue College. CECE focuses specifically on nonprofit, government, advocacy, faith-based, and civic organizations, and can help with guest speakers, service / volunteer opportunities, and more. The Center for Career Connections (CCC), also in RISE, supports engagement with businesses, such as through internships, capstones, and mentorships.


CECE can work with courses that utilize the following:

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Direct Volunteering Service-Learning
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Project-Based Service-Learning
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Community-Based Research
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Civic Education & Action
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Community Economic Engagement
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Philanthropy

Students in courses with these components:

  • Learn about social, environmental, or civic issues as connected to understanding and applying the course outcomes
  • Participate, in-person or remotely, in the broader community (personal, municipal, regional, or collegiate) in an action-oriented way
  • Reflect critically on experiences and connections to help them grow more holistically

Reach out to Community-Engaged & Civic Education (CECE) to learn more about these different types of Community-Engaged & Civic Education. Click below to learn more about how we define the above community engagement formats.

(All line icons on this page were made by Eucalyp from Flaticon.)


Connections, Support, and Resources for Faculty, Students, and Community

CECE at the RISE Learning Institute builds connection among faculty, students, and community in a multi-faceted, comprehensive way. CECE provides support to faculty in order to teach courses that place the learning outcomes within a community-based and civic context. Students apply concepts and skills to real-world situations, develop skills that they carry for life, and become more empathetic and passionate members of the community.

Click the tabs below to explore more about CECE has to offer:

Community-Engaged & Civic Education Courses

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  • RISE collaborates with instructors from all divisions to support efforts to build community engagement, service-learning, and civic education into their courses. Examples are:
    • BIOL 150 – Marine Biology
    • DMA 103 – Digital 2D Design
    • ENGL& 235 – Technical Writing
    • NURS 485 – Fieldwork in Community & Public Health Nursing
    • SOC& 201 – Social Problems
  • Course offerings change every quarter. Review the list compiled by RISE and consider signing up for one.

Faculty and Staff Support & Development

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  • RISE provides one-on-one guidance to help make community partnerships, integrate CECE into the course syllabus, design critical reflections, and more. Reach out to CECE to make an appointment. For faculty already thinking of offering CECE, this checklist will help to set the foundations of a meaningful and rigorous community-engaged course.
  • CECE offers a variety of professional development opportunities. These can range from 2-hour workshops to 3-month faculty learning communities. Some offerings focus specifically on CECE course development, while others deep dive into community issues and networking. Learn more about what’s being offered at the RISE for Faculty Service page.
  • In conjunction with faculty and staff, RISE has developed a pre-survey and post-survey to allow faculty to gauge the efficacy of their CECE course. These are available on Canvas Commons (search for “Bellevue College community civic”) or at the CECE Canvas course. RISE will compile and send the quarter’s responses to the instructors.
  • Students can earn a special notation in their transcript for taking a CECE course. Prior to this, though, the course must meet certain requirements to be able to offer the transcript notation. Look at the checklist for more information, and contact CECE for support in helping your course qualify.
  • Tons of resources are available at BC’s Service-Learning SharePoint site, the RISE for Faculty Service page, and the CECE Canvas course.

Student Support & Recognition

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  • Want to volunteer, but don’t know how to start? CECE and the CCC (yes…confusing!) offer advising sessions for volunteering. Reach out to Service Learning to set up an appointment.
  • By taking a CECE class, you might earn a special notation in your transcript! This can be useful when talking with employers or applying to transfer. Talk with your instructor to see whether their CECE course qualifies.
  • If you volunteer (in or outside of a class) for a minimum of 25 hours per academic year, you can earn a digital badge. Bronze, Silver, and Gold badges can be taken with you to demonstrate your commitment to your community.
  • Check out the RISE for Students Service page for more information about these topics and more!

Community & Civic Connections

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  • Through CECE, RISE partners with over 150 nonprofit and government agencies throughout the broad Seattle region. Go to the next tab to find a list. Through its efforts, CECE works to better cement Bellevue College as an integral part of the region. If your agency has an interest in exploring a community partnership, visit our Community page to learn more.
  • CECE can facilitate guest speakers from the community. Contact CECE to set up a class visit.
  • CECE and RISE collaborates across the college to build a culture of civic participation. CECE has led cross-campus efforts to support the 2020 Census and most recent elections.
  • From posting a yard sign to running for office, marching in protests to making changes in your own behavior, there is so much we can all do to make the world better. Learn more about how you can make a personal impact in your community.

Community Engagement & Volunteering

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  • BC in the Community is an amazing volunteer and service-learning portal available to anyone with a BC email address. Check out the over 90 participating agencies, sign up for volunteer opportunities, RSVP for events, log hours and create a volunteer resume, earn badges, and more! Faculty can use the portal to help manage service-learning courses. Learn more about how to use the portal, with guides and videos, on our BC in the Community support site.
  • Set up an advising appointment with RISE to learn how to get started with volunteering. See the “Students” tab here for details.
  • There are many amazing opportunities to volunteer on campus, including at the garden, the art gallery, the radio station, and the food pantry, just to name a few. Search under “Bellevue College” and “91.3 KBCS” in BC in the Community (link above) to see some opportunities. And, if you want to make a difference through crafts, get involved with CECE’s awesome Bags to Bedrolls Project.

Avenues for Civic Impact

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  • Bellevue College is part of an international working group, organized through Stanford University, to explore six different avenues or paths for making civic impact. Students can take a 10-minute fun diagnostic survey (Under 18? Take this one! Not a student? This one is for you!) to learn about which avenue (e.g. direct service, activism, social entrepreneurship, governance, research, philanthropy, etc.) fits their strengths, interests, and feelings around impact. More details about the Avenues are on RISE’s Civic Impact site.
  • RISE has developed a special course, EXPRL 115 – Changemakers, that allows students to explore the six avenues while meeting professionals and having community-engaged experiences. Students would also work on their resumes and build their networks. This 3-credit course is currently offered in the Spring; contact Sapan Parekh for more details.

Last Updated August 14, 2023