The Community-based Learning Course Development Grant Program is intended to support courses that bring together a diverse group of UW–Madison students to engage in Community-based Learning with non-profit or community organizations. Community-based Learning is a credit-bearing, high-impact educational experience that integrates meaningful community engagement, both direct engagement as well as project-based work, with guided reflection to enhance students’ understanding of course content and sense of civic responsibility.
Proposals that address how the course will involve a diverse group of UW–Madison students to meet a community-identified priority are especially encouraged. Extra consideration will be given to proposals addressing the recommendations of the Civic Action Plan, especially #9: “Support innovative models of community-based learning and student engagement that create sustained partnerships and sustained student engagement that complement the common/typical one semester course (university-centered) time frame.”
This initiative is designed to support undergraduate and graduate-level courses in all disciplines.
- Wages for an upper-level undergraduate or graduate student, including a TA or PA, to assist with course development and implementation.
- Supplies and other miscellaneous expenses directly related to course development and implementation
- Compensating community partners
- Note: If your partnership is based in Dane County, you do not need to account for transportation costs. Morgridge Center can provide transportation to eligible courses/students.
Click here to see the current and past funded CBL grants.
- This grant is intended to support courses in any discipline and at all levels that intentionally bring together a diverse group of UW-Madison students to engage in CBL with community organizations, public sector entities, or grassroots groups
- Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for funding, the course must align with the UAPC-approved Guidelinesfor Community-Based Learning. The proposal also must clearly address the following:
- Student learning outcomes and assessment of learning (see Essential Learning Outcomes for UW–Madison students)
- How the curriculum/instructor will adequately prepare students to engage in collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships
- How the course will engage a diverse array of students (this may mean student demographics, but can also cover students in disciplines less likely to be exposed to community-engaged pedagogies)
- How does the course addresses a community-identified priority
- What are anticipated short- and longer-term impacts on the community partner(s) and/or their constituents
Interim Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Scholarship Cory Sprinkel: sprinkel@wisc.edu
Budget and Application Form
Proposals are now being accepted for the Community-based Learning Course Development Grant program to support the development of new Community-based Learning courses, add a community-based component to existing courses, or sustain an ongoing CBL course.
Review criteria for applicants: Click here to see rubric.
Application Form: Click here to access the application form. You may use the word document to develop your proposal. Proposals must be submitted through the provided Qualtrics link.
Application Deadline:
Funds for this grant have been exhausted, please watch out for our next round of funding which will be released in August 2025.