Prospective Community Partners

What is the major in Education and Social Transformation?

The Education and Social Transformation major is concerned with the relationship between education and the transformation of important social structures, processes and outcomes. Students are interested in pursuing careers in teaching, and others are interested in education research, policy, or community advocacy.

• The goals of the major are inspired by recognition that education in its many forms is integral to social life. It provides a pathway not only for personal and professional advancement, but also serves as a forum through which individual and collective ideals, values, and aspirations come to be negotiated, defined, and enacted.
• The major is guided by a set of core principles and values including diversity, pluralism, equity of opportunity for all students, and social justice. The EST Program is guided by 5 Program Learning Outcomes, and centers community engagement in the following outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to engage respectfully with community partners to build meaningful, reciprocal relationships in ways that learn from and contribute to positively impacting educational opportunities and outcomes for diverse communities in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond.

What is community engagement?

Our department’s definition of community engagement comes from the Carnegie Elective Classification. Community engagement is “…collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.” Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement Framework (2022).

What is required of an internship site/supervisor?

As a program we seek to partner with schools and organizations that meet the following criteria, a community site that:

• Engages in meaningful programs or delivers services addressing important educational needs or issues in school or community settings for diverse communities.
• Hosts student volunteers/interns and/or collaborates on research that fills a need of the community.
• Offers students meaningful opportunities to apply and practice core concepts in the program learning outcomes.
• Fosters student understanding of the vision, mission, inputs, activities, and outcomes.
• Interested in fostering authentic relationships between students, community organization leaders, and/or community members.
• Offers an appropriate work environment – scheduling should include safety, flexibility, and predictability for students; the internship/research position should be volunteer or paid 8-10 hours per week for 10 weeks/80-100 per quarter, in-person, remote, or hybrid.

* Community partners hosting students enrolled in EDUC 195 must provide a site supervisor who is required to mentor students, evaluate their performance, and sign necessary contracts and time sheets. Site supervisor must contact UCLA staff if there are any problems or issues that cannot be resolved with the student.