The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) supports the University of Denver in developing the knowledge and experience that enables faculty, students and staff to actively participate in the public life of their communities.
Mission: We lead the campus in embracing the university's vision of "being a great private university dedicated to the public good.” We do this by educating, engaging, and equipping the campus community to address and work toward the resolution of critical community issues. With all of our constituents, we attempt to accomplish real, tangible public work that improves the lives of people in our communities.
Methods
CCESL works toward the vision and mission by building associations through a variety of methods including:
Academic Service Learning is one of the methods we use to work with our constituents. The Faculty Service Learning Committee at the University of Denver has defined service learning as “active learning that links traditional academics with community service.” At DU, service learning is designed to “deepen and expand classroom learning through thoughtful, collaborative engagement with community organizations, agencies, educational institutions and the people they serve.” (Service Learning: Definition and Academic Approval Process, May 2004)
The University of Denver has distinguished itself as a leader in the field of Community Based Research. Community Based Research (CBR). CBR is a collaborative enterprise between academic researchers (professors and students) and community members, which validates multiple sources of knowledge and promotes the use of multiple methods of discovery and of dissemination of the knowledge produced. CBR has as its goal social action and social change for the purpose of achieving social justice. (Strand, Marullo, Cutforth, Stoecker and Donohue, 2003)
The Center uses and Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach to community work. ABCD rests on the principle that the recognition of strengths, gifts, talents and assets of individuals and communities is more likely to inspire positive action for change than an exclusive focus on needs and problems. At its core are associations of community members, both formal and informal. (Greene, 2000).
This initiative is supported by a three-year grant from the Corporation for National Service 
