Foundations of Community Engagement
1 semester hour 5 weeks
online asynchronous
offered 9 times each academic year
Through this online, asynchronous course, you’ll gain knowledge, skills, and tools necessary for meaningful community engagement. By learning a combination of theoretical insights, case studies, and practical strategies, you will become better prepared to engage partners in community-engaged courses and future careers.
Upcoming course sessions:
April 6 - May 8, 2026 URP:3002:0EXV Register here
May 18 - June 7, 2026 URP:3002:0EXW Register here
June 29 - August 7, 2026 URP:3002:0EXU Register here
This course is offered by the Office of Community Engagement and IISC.
Engagement Matters
Engagement Matters
Through IISC projects, you will tackle real challenges facing Iowa communities today and work in collaboration with community leaders to create positive change.
Students who participate in high impact educational practices like community-engaged projects through IISC are more likely to stay in school, feel connected to their campus, and succeed in their careers. Plus, community engaged projects help build the skills employers are looking for including critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Project Resources
The following resources are recommended for IISC projects. If you have questions or need additional materials, contact Travis Kraus and Ashley Laux at iisc@uiowa.edu.
- "About" Language: Here is language we invite you to use in communications to explain who you are and the purpose of your work: "The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities creates mutually beneficial partnerships with communities across Iowa to advance shared goals. Each year, IISC works with at least two Iowa communities, from larger cities to rural areas, bringing more than 100 UI students to each community to complete projects identified by community leaders."
- Logo and Naming: Please adhere to the following naming and logo standards:
- Our formal name is the University of Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities.
- Our acronym is IISC.
- Use our UI branding lockup, which can be accessed on this page: https://brand.uiowa.edu/lockup/4676
- Refer to the UI Brand Manual for specific colors, fonts, and other information.
- Meeting Organization: Meeting agendas help guide productive and thoughtful discussions with community partners, and meeting minutes provide a record of important points and decisions. Here is an Agenda and Minutes Template for student project leaders to utilize when planning meetings with community partners.
- Surveys: Because we often have many surveys happening simultaneously within a single community, students should coordinate survey creation and distribution for IISC projects with IISC. If you will be creating a survey that will be distributed to one of our partnering communities, please contact Travis Kraus, director of IISC, at travis-kraus@uiowa.edu
- Media Release Waiver: We encourage faculty and students to document their work through photographs and/or video to amplify the stories of community-engaged partnerships. We recommend using this Media Release Waiver when photographing or filming members of the partnering community.
- Travel and Meals: IISC provides travel arrangements and reimbursements for trips related to engagement in our full partnerships with partners in Iowa. We can assist you with vehicle rental through UI Fleet Services, lodging, and other arrangements. Please email Ashley Laux, jashley-laux@uiowa.edu, prior to travel for assistance and approval.
Campus Resources
Undergraduate Engagement Corps hosted by the Office of Community Engagement provides full-time undergraduate students with training in critical areas of community engagement, including community-engaged research and building community partnerships.
Graduate Engagement Corps hosted by the Office of Community Engagement provides graduate students interested in community engagement with training, networking, and funding opportunities to elevate their research and increase their impact in local communities.