Why Community Engagement?

Community engagement takes on many forms at the University of Iowa and is core to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Our students apply media skills learned throughout their academic career to help communities, nonprofits and civic organizations solve economic, environmental, social-cultural, and public health challenges.

The UI Office of Community Engagement defines community engagement as the collaboration between higher education institutions and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in partnership and reciprocity. Community-engaged learning goes beyond direct service (e.g., cleaning up a community garden or tutoring youth) to deepen students' academic and civic learning.

Learning in collaboration with communities and nonprofits has the following benefits:
  • Enriches scholarship, research, and creative activity
  • Enhances curriculum, teaching, and learning
  • Prepares students to be educated and engaged citizens
  • Strengthens democratic values and civic responsibility
  • Addresses critical societal issues
  • Improves quality of life

79 %

Participation

2024-2025 SJMC graduates who enrolled in community-engaged coursework

SCRIPT Requirement

Only Community-Engaged Courses (CEC) administered by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, as designated by the Office of Community Engagement, may be used to fulfill the SCRIPT experiential learning requirement for journalism and mass communication majors. These courses typically have a prefix of EVNT, JMC or SMC.

What does collaboration look like?

Community-engaged courses are offered in the journalism, strategic communication, and multimedia production and design curricula as well as in the event management and nonprofit leadership and philanthropy certificates. Projects are designed to foster community engagement skills while meeting course learning outcomes.

  • Projects in entry-level classes may focus on best practices in community engagement and power and privilege in community-engaged work.
  • Projects in mid-level skills and conceptual classes may focus on communication with community partners and working in teams.
  • Projects in capstone classes may focus on project management, strategic planning, professional quality media production in journalism and strategic communication, and community engagement for social change.  
Pathfinders

Strategic Communications

Students in an advanced strategic communications course developed a communication campaign and an array of resources to help Pathfinders RC&D implement campaign strategies. 

Dubuque_photojournalism

Photojournalism

Students in a capstone photojournalism course spent three days in Dubuque capturing businesses, homes and activities related to sustainability and efforts to reduce emissions. 

Paws

Social Media Marketing

Students in an event management foundations course create multifaceted social media strategies for real-world clients based on resources, marketing timeline, and target audiences.

Videos and Infographics

JMC:3720 Nonprofit Communications

Finding Success

Preparing Nonprofit Leaders

The Green Bandana Project

What are my course options?

The Office of Community Engagement approves select courses for its university-wide community-engaged course (CEC) designation each academic year. These courses intentionally integrate community partnerships into course activities, providing students with meaningful experiences that address real-world challenges. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication administers a variety of courses that have received the university-wide CEC designation.

To view Community-Engaged Courses (CEC) offered during the current academic year, visit MyUI Courses and select the appropriate Course Category.

previous SJMC recipients of cec designation
COURSE#TITLEhours
EVNT:3154Foundations of Event Management3
EVNT:3160Crisis Management3
EVNT:3165Event Marketing3
EVNT:3180Sustainable Events3
EVNT:3185Topics in Event Management3
EVNT:3260Event Management Workshop3
JMC:3720Nonprofit Communications3
JMC:4315Strategic Communication Campaigns3

Who can help me?

Heather Spangler

Heather Spangler

Event Management Certificate
heather-spangler@uiowa.edu
E346C Adler Journalism Building

Heather is the primary contact for students who are interested in pursuing coursework in Event Management.

Jenifer Vick

Jenifer Vick

Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy Certificate
jenifer-vick@uiowa.edu
E322 Adler Journalism Building

Jenifer is the primary contact for students who are interested in pursuing coursework in Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy.

Jan Warren

Jan Warren

Office of Community Engagement
jan-warren@uiowa.edu
2999 University Capitol Centre

Jan is the Community Engagement Manager and oversees the Community Engaged Course (CEC) designation.