How to Revise an Existing Course (Not Previously CSL/CCEL)

Review the CEL Essential Elements Taxonomy and Definitions

The COCCE uses community-engaged learning (CEL) as the umbrella term to identify a broad array of courses in which community engagement is embedded. This Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Taxonomy identifies an implementation spectrum for a student-centered approach to CEL courses. 

The Chancellor's Office defines service learning as one type of CEL which must include all six essential elements from the CEL taxonomy. A companion CEL Tool (CELT) based on this taxonomy will be utilized by CSU faculty and campus Community Engagement offices to identify where in the spectrum of CEL a course falls, and will result in the assigning of one of two attributes: service-learning (CSLI) or curricular community-engaged learning (CCEL). 

Both the CEL Taxonomy and CELT support the CSU's systemwide effort to better gather data of community-engaged learning experiences taking place across our 23 institutions. Campus SL/CE Offices and the COCCE will utilize this information to provide on-going support to faculty, students and the CSU’s community partners.

CSU-CEL Taxonomy

Begin the CSU Community Engaged Learning Tool (CELT) v2 survey

Begin the CSU Community Engaged Learning Tool (CELT) v2 survey. 

The following form (CEL Tool) provides a series of questions based on the Taxonomy. 

It is designed for CSU faculty to identify where a course falls along the spectrum of CEL; resulting in the assigning of one of two attributes in the Student Information System: 

  1. service-learning (CSLI)
  2. curricular community-engaged learning (CCEL)

CSU Community Engaged Learning Tool (CELT) v2 survey

Confirmation email

After the CELT survey submission, look for the confirmation email with your responses. This email will also confirm if your course has been assigned an attribute or if more information is needed. If more information is needed, ICCE will follow up with you.

Revise courses

To revise your existing course as CSL or CCEL, access CIM courses. In the search box, input your course code (ex: A U 500) and select your course. At the bottom of the box, select "revise course".

When going through the online proposal form, you will be asked:

Community Engaged Course:

  • Curricular Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL)
  • Community Service Learning (CSLI)

Selected your CEL designation based on your CELT submission as well as any additional changes to the course then click "save and submit".

Important Note: Your selection of CCEL or CSLI will be based on the confirmation email that you received when you completed the CELT Survey Tool. At this time, only courses that are designated as CSLI, service hours confirmed by and uploaded into the SFSU Gateway (Campus Solutions) during the grading period by faculty will be recorded in a student's official transcript. 

Course Designation/CEL Initiative

In alignment with Graduation Initiative 2025, the Chancellor’s Office charged the CSU Center for Community Engagement (COCCE) to lead an effort to improve data collection and identify the spectrum of community-engaged learning courses taking place across the CSU. As a result, the Chancellor's Office has instituted two common systemwide “attributes” (CCEL and CSL) for community-engaged learning courses.

Attribute 1: Service Learning (CSL)

Service Learning (CSL) is a specific type of community-engaged learning in which substantive community engagement and the related community partnerships are critical components of course learning, with equal focus on community impact and student learning related to social justice or responsibility. Service-learning courses may also be labeled with a variety of titles.

Attribute 2: Curricular Community Engaged Learning (CCEL)

Curricular Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) refers to courses in any discipline that have some type of community-engaged experiences and activities built around reciprocal partnerships to benefit the common good and enhance student learning.

How to Propose a CSL/CCEL Designated Course

When navigating through the procedure for a new course proposal submission, faculty can request to obtain a CCEL or CSL course designation within the university's Curriculum Inventory Management (CIM) system. 

 

[Note: Once a course is designated in CIM, it will indicate in the SFSU Bulletin as, “CCEL or CSL may be available.” CCEL or CSL designation is at the course section level every semester and is optional for faculty to teach.]

How to Record CSL Hours

Faculty will be able to enter their students' service-learning (SL) hours through the Faculty Center via the SFSU Gateway account.

See Where Your Course Falls in the CEL Spectrum

Use the CSU Community Engaged Learning Tool (CELT) Survey.