Community Partners
A community partner is a nonprofit or publicly funded organization that forms a partnership with the Carolina Center for Public Service. The Center’s programs are committed to developing sustainable partnerships that work to address community-identified concerns.
If you’re a community representative looking for volunteers, we invite you to submit a request to our Public Service Newsletter. For more partnership opportunities, browse the tabs below:
Service-Learning Course Volunteers »
Most CCPS community partners are involved with the Service-Learning Courses program. Students enrolled in designated service-learning classes combine academic coursework with community service. The service experience is directly linked to the content of their course. As a part of the course, students commit to serving three to five hours per week for 10 weeks with a specific community partner.
Forms:
Host a Service-Learning Intern »
Community partners with growing needs or specialized projects can participate in the Service-Learning Internship program, which takes place during the spring semester and during the summer. Students from UNC-Chapel Hill apply to participate, and APPLES student leaders review applications and interview top applicants. Community partners have the chance to interview top candidates, and then APPLES student leaders match the selected interns with the organizations that meet both their interests and learning goals. APPLES subsidizes half of the interns’ pay, and asks community partners to provide the other half.
Get Connected
UNC Community Relations »
This website offers a broad listing of resources compiled by the University for folks in the area.
APPLES Community Partner Listserv
For community partners currently working with APPLES or interested in learning more about our programs. Covers upcoming opportunities, deadlines for these opportunities such as serving as a internship placement site or a service-learning course partner, and other news. To subscribe to this listserv, contact Kate Palmer.
Public Service News »
The Public Service News is an email newsletter that contains information relevant to the University’s public service mission. We publish the newsletter every Monday during the fall and spring semesters, and every other Monday during summer school.
Funding
Partnership Grants »
Students and community partners connected to an APPLES course are eligible to apply for a partnership grant. These grants are intended to benefit the community partner and deepen the service-learning experience for a student. APPLES offers up to 10 partnership grants of up to $100 each for the current semester. Community partners may submit requests in partnership with their student volunteers.
Community Partner Guide »
The Community Partner Guide provides information about APPLES programs and provides recommendations for supervising students.
Skills and Practices of Engaged Scholarship
The Skills and Practices of Engaged Scholarship Consortium hosts one-and-a-half-hour seminars to support community engagement and engaged scholarship at Carolina, sponsored by the Center for Faculty Excellence, the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute and CCPS. Check the CCPS events calendar for series schedule.
Lessons from a Community Partner Survey
You may find it useful to review these key findings from a 2020 community partner survey. We encourage you to share this report with Carolina students, faculty and staff working to support your organization.
- overview of service-learning
- details about the APPLES courses and internship programs
- nuts and bolts of the process and expectations of becoming a new community partner
- how to use the APPLES Partner Portal
This is also an opportunity to connect with other organizations working in the community, so feel free to bring information to share.
Check back for the next community partner orientation. For questions, contact Kate Palmer.
APPLES Service-Learning Awards
APPLES provides annual awards to faculty, community partners, students, alumni and supporters who have made outstanding and significant contributions to service-learning at Carolina.
Office of the Provost Engaged Scholarship Award
The Office of the Provost Engaged Scholarship Award recognizes faculty members or university units for exemplary engaged scholarship in service to the state of North Carolina. The service should serve as an example of excellence, including responsiveness to community concerns and strong community partnerships. Three Provost awards are given annually, one each for engaged teaching, engaged research and engaged partnership.
Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award
Four Robert E. Bryan Public Service Awards are given for a specific effort (rather than an overall record) exemplifying outstanding engagement and service to the state of North Carolina. Bryan Awards recognize an outstanding undergraduate student, graduate student, staff member and officially recognized student organization.