CEL Agreement Form, Fall 2025

CEL Agreement Form

Fall 2025

This form is meant to serve as a collaborative learning agreement between the student, community partner mentor, faculty sponsor, and the Office of Community-Engaged Learning (OCEL).

The Office of Community-Engaged Learning (OCEL) aims to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with community organizations and schools in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, and the greater Hudson Valley. Community Engaged Learning (CEL #290) is a community-based educational opportunity aimed to enhance learning through employing pedagogical strategies of structured critical reflection, dialogic engagement, integration of academic learning goals, and connection to clearly articulated community-desired outcomes and impact.

Students are eligible to receive either 0.5 unit (around 4-6 hours/weekly) or 1.0 unit (around 8-10 hours/weekly) of academic credit in the department of their faculty sponsor. All CEL is graded as pass/fail and is based on the feedback of the community partner mentor.

There are three components to this form: Student Information and Pre-Reflection, Community-Based Work, and Academic Work.

Student Information:
- Is to be completed by the student to articulate community-based learning goals and academic learning goals
- Is important information for OCEL record-keeping purposes
The Community-Based Work:
- Is to be completed in a meeting with the student and the community partner mentor
- Details the community-based project responsibilities, goals, and outcomes
- Highlights the connection between the student’s community-based learning goals and the work of the organization
The Academic Work:
- Is to be completed by the student and faculty sponsor
- Is to support the student working with their faculty sponsor in co-creating the academic framework for the CEL experience
- Supports the student's academic learning goals
- Complements the learning goals from the Community-Based Work section
There is a Save & Continue option located at the bottom of the form. Please use it as you complete each section so that your progress will be saved. When you select the Save & Continue option, you will receive an email with a link to continue completing the form from where you left off.

This form is due Wednesday, September 24, 2025. Please reach out to the OCEL directly at ocel@vassar.edu if you experience challenges with completing the form by this date.
Student Information Section:
Student's Name*

First NameLast Name
Student's Preferred Name
Student’s Pronouns (if you wish to share)
Student's Vassar Email address*
Class Year*
Student Major*
Student ID*
Please select your # of credits*
Why are you interested in community-engaged learning? Why do you want to do a CEL with this organization and in this role?*

(minimum word count 150) 0/0
What are you hoping to learn more about yourself, your community, and the organization?*

(minimum word count 150) 0/0
How do you hope this CEL experience will support or enhance your liberal arts education?*

(minimum word count 150) 0/0
Student Signature (typed signature will suffice) Signature*
Date*

MonthDayYear
Don't forget to Save & Continue

(Scroll to the bottom of the form to save)
Community-Based Work Section:

This section is to be completed by the student and the community partner mentor together to support a meaningful community-based learning experience.
CEL Organization Name*
What issue/action area does the organization support?*
What is the mission of the organization?*
Community Partner Mentor Name*

First NameLast Name
Community Partner Mentor Position Title*
Community Partner Mentor Email*
Mentor's Phone Number*
CEL Organization's Address (or mailing address if applicable)*
Student's CEL Position Title*
Student's Start Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Student's End Date (*Most students end their Fall CELs before December 19th.)*

MonthDayYear
Date
What are some skills the student would like to learn/strengthen through this CEL experience?*

Community development/outreachCreate curriculaCritical analysis of larger social issuesCritical thinkingData analysisEditing/productionGardening/farmingGIS/MappingGrant writingGraphic design/social mediaGreater cultural awareness/humilityOral & written communicationPublic speakingUnderstanding of PoughkeepsieYouth outreach/education
What are the student's responsibilities? *
How will the student help to build capacity for the organization? *
Mentorship is an important component of the CEL experience. We suggest scheduling a standing meeting once a week. How often will the student and mentor/supervisor meet?*

Once a week or more (in person)Once a week or more (virtually)Every two weeks (in person)Every two weeks (virtually)Other
How will work be assigned?*

Through emailDuring weekly meetingsTask management softwareShared documentOther
If you selected "other" in the question above, please indicate how often the student and mentor/supervisor will be meeting.
Does the Mentor have any suggestions for readings or materials that would be supportive to the student's learning and complements the community-based work the student will be doing with the organization?*
Have the Mentor and the student met to discuss communication expectations, organization orientations or trainings, schedules, general responsibilities, key deadlines, etc.?*

YesNoWe have scheduled a meeting to discuss this
CEL Agreement

By signing, the organization Community Partner Mentor and the Vassar student agree that all the information above was discussed prior to signing this CEL Agreement. By signing this agreement, both parties are aware that this position is a community-based learning experience for academic credit.

By signing, both parties acknowledge and support the OCEL’s critical community engaged learning pedagogy and are aware that students are expected to attend OCEL workshops, complete an end of the semester reflection form, and maintain a critical reflection journal.

The OCEL wants to acknowledge that this Agreement is a living document. However, situations or circumstances may change. The Organization or the OCEL may terminate or adjust this CEL Agreement after consultation with all parties.

If there are any questions or concerns at any point during the CEL, please contact OCEL@vassar.edu.

A copy of this agreement will be returned to all parties.
CEL Supervisor/Mentor Signature (typed signature will suffice) Signature*
Date*

MonthDayYear
Student Signature (typed signature will suffice) Signature*
Date*

MonthDayYear
Don't forget to Save & Continue

(Scroll to the bottom of the form to save)
Academic Work Section:

This section is to be co-created by the student and faculty sponsor (instructor) to support a meaningful community-based learning experience. The Academic Work section should complement the learning goals from the Community-Based Work section.
Faculty Sponsor's (Instructor) Name*

First NameLast Name
Faculty Sponsor's (Instructor) Email*
Faculty Sponsor's (Instructor) Department*
Students receive credit in the department of their faculty sponsor.
Credit Value Requirements:
- Students receiving 0.5 unit (around 4-6 hours/weekly) of credit are expected to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community-based work and a minimum of 30 hours of academic work.
- Students receiving 1.0 unit (around 8-10 hours/weekly) of credit are expected to complete a minimum of 80 hours of community-based work and a minimum of 60 hours of academic work.
Credit Value*
Course Title*
The course title should be crafted in consultation between student and faculty sponsor. It should reflect both the community based-work and academic work. It will appear on the student's transcript and is limited to 29 characters including spaces. (Example: Access in Healthcare or Abolition and Community )
What are the academic learning goals of this CEL experience?*
How will the student's academic goals complement the community-based work?*

(minimum word count 100)0/0
Please indicate the methods that will be used to monitor the student's progress, assign academic work, and evaluate student performance (in addition to the organization’s evaluation). *
Zotero (click here) is a library of previously assigned readings that are aligned with our community partners’ action areas. This is a valuable resource designed to support you as a faculty sponsor.
Please list the academic readings assigned to the student below. *
How often will the faculty sponsor and student meet?*

Once a week or more (in person)Once a week or more (virtually)Every two weeks (in person)Every two weeks (virtually)Once a month (in person)Once a month (virtually)Other
If you selected "other" in the question above, please explain.
Beyond the academic readings and the critical reflection journal, what additional work will be assigned?*

Community EventsDocumentariesMagazinesPhotojournalPodcastsSocial MediaVideosVirtual conferencesReadings shared by organization to be includedOther
What medium will the final integrative assignment be?*

Community-based projectPoster for OCEL End of Year CelebrationResearch paperPodcastPhotojournalOther
If you selected "other" in the question above, please explain.
When will the final assignment be due?*

MonthDayYear
Date
CEL Agreement

By signing, the faculty sponsor and the student agree that all the information above was discussed prior to signing this CEL Agreement. By signing this agreement, both parties are aware that this position is a community-based learning experience for academic credit.

By signing, both parties acknowledge and support the OCEL’s critical community engaged learning pedagogy and are aware that students are expected to attend OCEL workshops, complete an end of the semester reflection form, and maintain a critical reflection journal.

The OCEL wants to acknowledge that this Agreement is a living document. However, situations or circumstances may change. The Organization or the OCEL may terminate or adjust this CEL Agreement after consultation with all parties. The OCEL will communicate with the faculty sponsor in these instances.

If there are any questions or concerns at any point during the CEL, please contact OCEL@vassar.edu.

A copy of this agreement will be returned to all parties.
Please indicate how the student and the supervisor collaborated on this form together.*

In PersonVia EmailVia ZoomVia Phone
Faculty Sponsor Signature (typed signature will suffice) Signature*
Date*

MonthDayYear
Student Signature (typed signature will suffice) Signature*
Date*

MonthDayYear
For the student - please type OCEL@vassar.edu below.*
Don't forget to select Submit
Should be Empty:

CEL Agreement Form

Fall 2025

There is a Save & Continue option located at the bottom of the form. Please use it as you complete each section so that your progress will be saved. When you select the Save & Continue option, you will receive an email with a link to continue completing the form from where you left off.

Student Information Section:

Don't forget to Save & Continue

(Scroll to the bottom of the form to save)

Community-Based Work Section:

CEL Agreement

Don't forget to Save & Continue

(Scroll to the bottom of the form to save)

Academic Work Section:

Credit Value Requirements:

CEL Agreement

Don't forget to select Submit