Rutgers-Newark has a long and impressive history of community engagement, represented by faculty and administrative initiatives and longstanding relationships with government agencies and the non-profit and corporate communities. Rutgers-Newark has been ranked among the Nation’s Top 25 "Best Neighbor" Colleges and Universities.

A key aspect of the campus’ community engagement has been the use of the many community assets in our courses. Formally known as Community-Based (or Service) Learning, this approach to teaching provides the opportunity for students to learn from the richness of the community beyond the campus.

The Office of Community-Based Learning was launched in order to provide support for existing and new courses that foster these types of learning experiences and encourage civic responsibility. The 2011-2012 recipients of the Community-Based Learning Grant Program were recently announced.

The Office of Community-Based Learning, based in the Office of the Assistant Chancellor and Library Director, John Cotton Dana Library, provides information on Community-Based Learning opportunities, including details on agencies, companies, and other organizations, which have participated in such learning experiences with Rutgers-Newark faculty.

Dr. Aldo Civico, Department of Sociology and Anthropology. For the course: Urban Anthropology

Dr. Arturo Osorio, Department of Management and Global Business. For the course: Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and Food Systems

Drs. Gretchen Van De Walle, Vanessa LoBue, and Paul Boxer, Department of Psychology. For the course: Developmental Methods

Photographs were taken by Mark Papianni.