Community Partners
Community based group/organizations, non-profits, and public agencies have formed educational partnerships with Portland Community College (PCC) to seek new and innovative ways to meet student and community needs. PCC students provide valuable service to community partners who, in turn, support students’ educational endeavors.
Community Partner Tool Kit
Post Opportunities & Connect with Faculty and Students
GivePulse for PCC
GivePulse allows groups and community organizations to list and post opportunities, events, and internships. Connect with faculty and students by creating a group for your organization and affiliating* with PCC. GivePulse is the primary tool faculty use to identify potential partner agencies for their courses. Faculty may contact you to discuss their ideas and ensure that partnering is a good fit for their students and for your organization.
Basics of GivePulse for Community Partners (YouTube Video)
Steps to join and affiliate with PCC
- Set up your personal and/or group account**. Join GivePulse »
- Once your organization’s profile is set up, request to affiliate with PCC Community-Based Learning. Request to Affiliate with PCC »
*Learn more about the GivePulse Affiliate process.
Recruit Volunteers and share opportunities to engage with your organization/group
Create Event, List, Post and Organize events (GivePulse Support Page with instructional video)
List your volunteer opportunity on GivePulse
Neighbor to Neighbor Fairs
Interested in recruiting volunteers and sharing information about resources/services provided by your organization? We encourage you to participate in our Neighbor to Neighbor Fairs! These events are a great opportunity for faculty, students, and community partners to connect face to face. Fairs typically occur within the first 4 weeks of Fall, Spring, and Winter terms. Upcoming dates are listed on the registration form.
Register for upcoming Neighbor to Neighbor events
Community Engaged Institute for Social Change (CEISC)
The Community Engaged Institute for Social Change aspires to cultivate a network of social change agents who build solidarity through education, collaboration, and action. Each academic year, we seek Community Partners who would like to collaborate with a cohort of Faculty and Students engaged in learning, teaching, and taking action together; fostering a culture of community engagement at PCC based on respectful curiosity that centers the voices of community members.
Schedule a meeting to discuss collaboration opportunities with the cohort
Collaborating with Faculty and Students
- General Principles of Community-Based Learning
- Working with Community-Based Learning Students
- Working with Faculty and the Academic Calendar
Steps for new and interested partners
Review Criteria for Partners
PCC Community-Based Learning Community Partners must meet and agree to the following criteria:
- Be a community based group/organization, non-profit, or public agency serving community needs.
- Be accessible to Portland Community College students.
- For on-ground in-district collaborations: this includes Multnomah County west of I-205, Washington County, Columbia County, parts of Yamhill County, and Lake Oswego, Oregon.
- For on-ground, out of district collaborations please contact the PCC CBL District Coordinator.
- For online collaborations: provide accessible opportunities for online engagement regardless of location.
- Provide volunteer opportunities that foster learning objectives
- Incorporate risk-management procedures for injury prevention and liability reduction. (For local resources on best practices, refer to Nonprofit Association of Oregon or Northwest Oregon Volunteer Administrators Association)
- Accept volunteers over the course of one term (up to eleven weeks), with the possibility of continuation beyond the term. (Note: Instructors assign varying minimum hours for the term, ranging from about 3 to 20 total hours.)
- Have a responsible contact person who will:
- Respond quickly to student inquiries.
- Let students know quickly whether they are accepted.
- Place students in positions matching educational objectives.
- Ensure that students are oriented, trained, and supervised.
- Communicate with students and/or PCC instructors about problems and successes.
- Follow the guidelines on the PCC Community-Based Learning Agreement.
- Interested in promoting students’ academic learning, community engagement, social responsibility, and civic engagement.
- Understand the disclaimer we provide to our PCC community.
Arrange a site visit
Contact the Community-Based Learning Coordinator to set up a site visit. Site visits are an opportunity for our program staff to learn more about your organization and discuss collaboration opportunities through the courses and academic programs offered here at PCC.
Group for Community Partners
Join the Community Connector
This group for is for individuals, organizations, and community groups who have expressed interest in collaborating with community-based learning courses and/or recruiting volunteers. The CBL Program use this group to share:
- opportunities
- announcements
- resources
As a member of this group, we encourage you to:
- register for our program’s events and opportunities (i.e., Neighbor to Neighbor, networking events, workshops, etc…)
- provide feedback about how we can better support you and your organization
- invite other colleagues and community members
Additional PCC Contacts
Jobs & Internships
Do you have internships and/or jobs that would be ideal for PCC students? Contact PCC’s Career Services! Each PCC campus has program specialists available to assist you in connecting with students.
Community Service Work Study Positions
PCC’s Financial Aid office is always looking for non-profit and public agency to partner with for their Community Service Work Study positions. Students who receive Federal Work Study, as part of the Financial Aid Award, are eligible for off campus positions working in the community. Non-profit organizations and public agency that are interested in creating part-time positions for these PCC students can contact the Financial Aid Federal Work Study Coordinator for more information.
Student Leadership
Outside of the classroom, PCC has a robust student life on each of its campuses! To connect with student clubs and organizations contact the Associated Students of Portland Community College (ASPCC)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Community-Based Learning?
At PCC, Community-Based Learning (CBL) is a teaching method that integrates reciprocal partnerships, community engagement, and critical reflection to meet institutional and course outcomes while developing individual, civic, and social responsibility. For more information, visit the Principles of Community-Based Learning page.
What will students be doing in a Community-Based Learning course?
Community-Based Learning looks different depending on the course. Generally, faculty use community-based learning as an option to a more traditional assignment like a term paper. Community-Based Learning assignments will entail some form of community engagement paired with reflection activities (journal, short papers, a presentation) that will connect their work with you to the course learning objectives.
What are the benefits to becoming a Community Partner?
- Provides short-term volunteers to meet community needs.
- Provides potential long-term volunteers and potential recruits for agency employment.
- Increases awareness of agency services and social issues within the community.
- Community-Based Learning initiatives provide the community with substantial human resources to meet its educational, human, safety, and environmental needs. The talent, energy, and enthusiasm of college students are applied to meet these ever increasing needs.
- Many students commit to a lifetime of community engagement after this experience, which creates a democracy of participation.
- Community agencies gain the opportunity to participate in educational partnerships.
What are the criteria for becoming a Community Partner?
PCC Community-Based Learning Community Partners must meet and agree to the following criteria:
- Be a community based group/organization, non-profit, or public agency serving community needs.
- Be accessible to Portland Community College students. For on-ground in-district collaborations: this includes Multnomah County west of I-205, Washington County, Columbia County, parts of Yamhill County, and Lake Oswego, Oregon. For on-ground, out of district collaborations please contact the PCC CBL District Coordinator. For online collaborations: provide accessible opportunities for online engagement regardless of location.
- Provide volunteer opportunities that foster learning objectives
- Incorporate risk-management procedures for injury prevention and liability reduction. (For local resources on best practices, refer to Nonprofit Association of Oregon or Northwest Oregon Volunteer Administrators Association)
- Accept volunteers over the course of one term (up to eleven weeks), with the possibility of continuation beyond the term. (Note: Instructors assign varying minimum hours for the term, ranging from about 5 to 20 total hours.)
- Have a responsible contact person who will:
- Respond quickly to student inquiries.
- Let students know quickly whether they are accepted.
- Place students in positions matching educational objectives.
- Ensure that students are oriented, trained, and supervised.
- Communicate with students and/or PCC instructors about problems and successes.
- Follow the guidelines on the PCC Community-Based Learning Agreement.
- Interested in promoting students’ academic learning, community engagement, social responsibility, and civic engagement.
- Understand the disclaimer we provide to our PCC community.
How will students choose an organization for their community-based learning projects?
Faculty refer students to particular agencies, guide them to GivePulse, or they ask students to use their own resources to find the agencies to identify opportunities for community engagement.
How will I know when the student is from PCC and what their assignment is?
Students will bring a PCC Community-Based Learning Agreement form, which is designed to clarify expectations, communicate learning objectives, promote safety, and foster communication. Site supervisors should keep a copy in order to contact students and instructors as needed. The second page of the Agreement outlines guidelines for the constituent community-based learning participants.