Facts and Figures on Community-Based Learning

Community-based learning at PSU earns awards

For the second year in a row, Portland State University's Community-Based Learning curriculum is among the best in the nation. According to U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2004," Portland State University was ranked among the top institutions nationally in the categories of Service Learning, Learning Communities, and Senior Capstone. These categories are reflective of PSU's vision, values, and mission, and are at the heart of our curriculum. View rankings.

Three prestigious national awards recently granted to the university reflect the same theme.

• The 2002 Theodore M. Hesburgh Award Certificate of Excellence for Enhancing Undergraduate Teaching and Learning
• The first ever Corporation for National and Community Service: Higher Education Award for Leadership in National Service
• The 2002 winner of The Urban Impact Award given by the Council of the Great City Schools, and the Council of the Great City Colleges of Education

Program characteristics demonstrate distinction

Students and faculty are involved in community-based scholarship in both curriculum and research programs as the primary means to achieve the university mission. Community-based learning, service learning, and Senior Capstones at PSU demonstrate the following achievements.

• Annually, PSU offers over 400 community-based learning courses, serves over 400 community organizations, and places more than 6,500 students in community-university partnerships.
• Students and faculty are involved in community-based scholarship in both curriculum and research programs as the primary means to achieve the university mission.
• PSU community-university partnerships vary greatly from profit to nonprofit organizations. Prominent partnerships include Nike, Intel, Honda and Precision Castparts; city, county, regional and state governments; homeless shelters, environmental organizations and refugee service organizations; and public schools and museums.
• PSU supports one of the largest capstone programs in the nation. The university engages 2,000 students per year in Senior Capstones, unparalleled by other institutions. The PSU capstone model employs long-term relationships between PSU and community organizations.
• The community-based STRT (Scholarship of Teaching Resource Team)project has enlisted 20 participants.
• PSU has provided leadership in implementing service learning standards for legal and liability issues.
  • A majority (62%)of students agreed that their service-learning courses enhanced their ability to solve problems.
  • Over three-fourths (78%)of students agreed that service-learning courses helped them connect what they learned in "real-life situations."
  • A student in an urban-housing course stated that as a result of the community work,in the course, he was better prepared to determine "what the consequences of that action [housing policy] might be in the surrounding communities."

Surveys show impact

Data on community-based learning at PSU is derived from assessment surveys administered in CBL/Capstone courses. 2,938 students in 232 courses completed surveys.

Students consistently report a greater ability to critically evaluate community issues.

Scholarship matches service

Through the capstone program alone, more than 160 community-based research projects are completed per year, addressing community-identified needs. In addition, PSU faculty and students have presented and published their innovations in community-based teaching, learning, and public problem-solving in numerous international venues.

Recent Grants

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2003

Community Partners Matter 2003

Student Leaders for Service Action Team 2002-2003

Learn & Serve 2000-2003