Community Partners
Thank you for your interest in becoming a community partner with West Chester University. We see community partners as co-educators who work directly with students to provide community service and service-learning opportunities to our students, staff, and faculty. Community partners that work with the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact are typically non-profit organizations and/or government agencies. We take great pride in creating, maintaining, and sustaining reciprocal partnerships with outside organizations.
The Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact recently launched a new tool that will allow community agencies to make their general volunteer needs searchable to volunteers seeking opportunities. Specific events should be directed to Shannon Gillespie at SGillespie@wcupa.edu.
Add Your Agency to Our Directory!Getting Started
Community partners can connect with the University in a variety of ways. We welcome the opportunity to consult with organizations about their needs to gain a better understanding of how we can best create a partnership that works for all stakeholders. Contact Seth Jacobson to set up a consultation.
Collaborate with a Faculty Member
The Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact assists community organizations with creating partnerships with faculty for service-learning courses, as well as community-engaged research. Service-Learning is a teaching method that combines community service with curricular goals as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking and civic responsibility. These courses benefit both the provider and the recipient of the service. Staff from the department will often facilitate this connection, share best practices, and provide support before, during, and after the semester. Working with a faculty member is a very sustainable way to partner with a university. To get started contact Service-Learning Faculty Associate, Dr. Ashlie Delshad.
Working with our Students
Creating a student orientation can build a collaborative work environment, increase retention rates of volunteers and meet the organization's goals and expectations of student volunteers. View a list of best practices .
Another unique opportunity to work with WCU students is through the Center for Community Solutions. Learn more information here.
Volunteer Fair
WCU's Office of Service-Learning and Volunteer Programs invites non-profit organizations to connect with hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and community members at the Volunteer Fair. The fair is free and registration is first come, first serve. A table and two chairs is provided for each organization. For more information contact Shannon Gillespie.