About Us

The Center for Community Engaged Learning

Our Mission is to institutionalize community engagement as a core academic, research, and service mission of the university, and to strengthen the university’s role as a driver of educational access, civic learning, and community partnership.

Our Mission

The Center for Community Engaged Learning fosters meaningful connections between students, faculty, and community partners. Through hands-on learning, research, and service, the Center empowers students to transform their education into action and works to advance civic leadership, social responsibility, and community well-being.

Our Vision

Academic Excellence- Establish Kean University as a transformative urban research institution that enhances student lives, advances knowledge, and strengthens communities through integrated academic excellence.
Equity- Foster a university-wide culture of belonging and opportunity where all students, faculty, staff, and
community partners have access to resources, recognition, advancement, and support necessary for success.
Inclusivity- Foster an inclusive campus environment that leverages diverse perspectives to enhance student success, faculty engagement, and staff development through intentional relationship-building, belonging initiatives, and community involvement.
Wellness- Enhance the well-being of students, faculty, and staff by developing a comprehensive wellness
framework that promotes mental, physical, and social health, expands access to resources, and fosters a sense of belonging across the university community.
Social Mobility- Establish the university as a transformative force for socioeconomic advancement by creating comprehensive pathways that enable students from all backgrounds to achieve educational attainment, career success, and lifelong economic prosperity.
Public Impact- Leverage our engaged faculty, talented student body, and research capacity to drive scalable, measurable, and sustainable impact. By deploying academic expertise, policy innovation, and educational resources, the University strives to catalyze lasting societal change.

Values and Guiding Principles

Support Kean’s public mission of access and equity through reciprocal partnerships with schools, nonprofits, andmunicipalities.
Advance Kean’s role in regional economic and workforce development, consistent with anchor institution commitments.
Enhance student learning by integrating civic and community engagement across curricula, co-curricula, and research.
Provide faculty with infrastructure and recognition for community-engaged scholarship.
Elevate Kean’s visibility nationally through its membership in CUMU (Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities) and peer networks