CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
In 2023, Hofstra University convened a committee of 52 campus and community leaders to develop a shared definition of community engagement. The definition was refined in 2024 by a subcommittee supporting the development of the Hofstra 100 Strategic Plan:
Community engagement is collaboration with external communities and stakeholders for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge, experience, opportunity, and resources.
This definition guides the University’s efforts to expand community-engaged learning across the curriculum. Hofstra is working to designate community-engaged courses and incorporate experiential learning and community-engaged learning into the general education curriculum.
To support this initiative, faculty in the Hofstra College of Arts and Sciences are receiving grants to redesign courses that provide students with high-quality, community-engaged learning experiences..
Examples of Community-Engaged Courses
GES Special Topics: Community-Engaged Earth Data and Sustainability (CEEDS)
Offered by the Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, this course partners with Holy Cross High School in Flushing, New York. Students develop skills in R and RStudio, AI-assisted coding tools, environmental data analysis, and interactive dashboard design. They then collaborate with high school students to investigate real-world sustainability challenges through research projects focused on topics such as earthquake hazards, groundwater quality, climate variability, urban heat islands, and water resource monitoring.
In partnership with the Montaukett Indian Nation, students create print and digital maps that highlight Indigenous histories, relationships to the land, and contemporary experiences across Long Island. Through place-based, experiential learning, students combine Geographic Information Systems (GIS), cartographic techniques, and community knowledge to develop public-facing digital maps using the STQRY platform. Students also produce historical maps that document more than two centuries of Indigenous land ownership across Long Island.
Community-Engaged Courses
Community-engaged courses connect students with community partners through collaborative projects that enrich learning while addressing community-identified needs. Community partners—including nonprofit organizations, schools, civic leaders, government agencies, and other organizations—work alongside faculty and students in reciprocal partnerships that create meaningful benefits for everyone involved.
With support from the University and the Center for Civic Engagement, faculty integrate community-engaged experiences into their courses, enabling students to apply classroom learning in real-world settings while contributing to projects that advance community priorities. These experiences strengthen students’ academic learning, professional skills, and civic understanding.
To support successful partnerships, each community-engaged course includes a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of both the University and the community partner. Community partners also have the opportunity to provide feedback on the partnership experience through a dedicated assessment process that complements the University’s standard Course and Teacher Rating (CTR) evaluations.
Hofstra’s academic programs empower you to think beyond the classroom and turn knowledge into action. Find the right program for your goals and shape your future with us.