Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning (CCESL)

Welcome to CCESL

Here at the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL), we believe that allowing students to participate in community activities and develop creative solutions to community issues benefits students' ultimate ability to think critically about the world around them. We accomplish this through academic and co-curricular community engagement activities as well as by offering a wide variety of service-learning course options each semester.​​​

Vision

Our vision is to build bridges to the community to create a more engaged campus, cultivate social responsibility, and develop a vibrant learning environment for UHD students.

Mission

CCESL's mission is to connect the university to the community by cultivating local and regional relationships with non-profit organizations, government agencies, small businesses, and individuals, thus enhancing student learning, developing responsible citizenship, and serving the community.

Goals

• To enhance the academic learning and intellectual growth of students by engaging in high impact instructional practices, career-related experiences and internships, and linking student interest and skill-sets with identified community needs and opportunities.
• To strengthen students'; civic values and moral character by embedding service learning in the curriculum, responding to community needs, and engaging in service to others through direct volunteer service, internships, and community development activities.
• To improve the quality of the social environment of the community by engaging in programs that foster harmony.
• To increase the capacity of the community to provide solutions to community needs and challenges such as literacy, homelessness, child and adult maltreatment, and civic issues.

UHD Community Engagement Definition

Community engagement is a collaborative effort reflecting the reciprocal and respectful relationships between community partners and the university community. Together we generate socially impactful knowledge through inquiry and critical reflection, which can then lead to actionable change. This mutual exploration and exchange of ideas facilitates the development of strategies necessary to address community challenges working towards a just and sustainable future.

Service Learning

Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities (Learn and Serve America National Service Learning Clearinghouse). Service learning is a process of involving students in community service activities combined with facilitated means for applying the experience to their academic and personal development. It is a form of experiential education aimed at enhancing and enriching student learning in course material. When compared to other forms of experiential learning like internships and cooperative education, it is similar in that it is student-centered, hands-on and directly applicable to the curriculum.

Volunteering and Service Opportunities

Community service is a core part of the University of Houston–Downtown experience that goes beyond just GatorServe and CCESL. Through service, students develop leadership skills, strengthen their connection to Houston, and live out UHD’s mission of preparing engaged, civically minded graduates. CampusGroups is UHD’s official platform for discovering, tracking, and verifying community service opportunities. As such, all those interested in volunteering to help their community are encouraged to use the platform to find, sign up for, and verify hours for your volunteering needs. If you would like to see a new community partner on groups, or are a partner yourself that would like to join us. Please reach out to durhamg@uhd.edu

Below is a guide to help you use groups for your volunteering needs!

Part I: How to Find Community Service Opportunities

1. Go to Campus Groups and sign in using your UHD credentials.
2. From the top navigation bar, click on “Events.”
3. Use the event filters to select Community Service, Volunteer, or Service Learning
   opportunities or (see step 4).
4. Use the search bar and keywords such as “volunteer,” “service,” or “community.”
5. Click on an event to review the date, time, location, and expectations.
6. Click “RSVP” or “Register” so your participation is officially recorded.
7. Visit the “Groups” tab and join organizations such as the Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning (CCESL) to see recurring opportunities.

Part II: How to Input and Verify Service Hours

1. Log in to UHD CampusGroups and select the “Home” tab.
2. On the left-side menu, locate and expand “My Involvement.”
3. Click on “My Service Hours.”
4. Select “Add Service Hours” in the top-right corner.
5. Complete the service hours form with accurate dates, times, and organization details.
6. Upload verification documents if available (photos, emails, or verification letters).
7. Click “Next” to submit your service hours.
8. Confirm that your hours appear in the list with a status of “Pending Verification.”
9. Wait for verification by your student organization officers or the Office of Student Leadership & Involvement (SLI).

*Important Reminder: Always RSVP for service events and submit your hours promptly.
Keeping your CampusGroups record up to date is important for leadership programs,
scholarships, graduation recognition, and future professional opportunities.