Community and Deeper Learning

A planned move to a semester calendar—from a quarterly one—will allow Seattle University to further support all students in all ways.

Some of the world’s most innovative educational experiences have been out of reach for SU students due to calendar constraints as the university operates on a quarter system. But that will soon change as the university prepares to transition to a unified semester calendar, beginning in the 2027 academic year.

In an ongoing series, we’ll showcase the benefits of a semester calendar on various programs and departments across the university. Here’s a look at how it will impact the work of the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement:

Seattle University's transition from quarters to semesters will create more time for students to engage meaningfully with community partners, connect classroom learning with real-world experience and deepen their impact across Seattle.

Community engagement is central to Seattle University’s mission and the student experience. Through the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement (CCE), students learn with “one foot on campus and one foot in the neighborhood,” connecting coursework with local organizations, schools and nonprofits.

Two of the most visible pathways for this work are faculty partnerships and the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI). Faculty members partner with CCE to build community-engaged learning into their courses.

SUYI, now in its 15th year, places staff and students in local schools to support young scholars and families through academic mentoring, social-emotional support, college preparation, family programming and summer activities.

As Seattle University moves from quarters to semesters, CCE sees a clear win—more time for students to build trust, contribute meaningfully and connect classroom learning with neighborhood priorities. The shift also gives community partners longer commitments and a more reliable rhythm for planning.

Longer Partnerships, Stronger Impact

Community-engaged learning depends on time invested both in preparation and in the field. Under the quarter system, a community-based project can feel compressed into a 10-week term. Once onboarding and student schedules are considered, some projects are closer to six weeks. By the time students settle into a role, the term is often nearly over.

Students need time to build trust, understand the inner workings of a partner organization and learn how best to contribute. Community partners also need time to orient students, hand off projects and evaluate results. The semester system changes that dynamic.

With 12 to 13 weeks of active engagement, students can stay involved long enough to experience a fuller project cycle. Research on community-engaged learning shows that longer placements lead to deeper learning, giving students more opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world experience. Community partners have also been clear that they are eager for longer commitments from SU students.

“Under the quarter system, some organizations have not wanted to partner with SU because of the short duration of student engagement,” says CCE Executive Director Kent Koth. “As we shift to the semester system, we anticipate that additional organizations will be open to becoming partners, which will offer students more expansive learning opportunities and enable the university to make an even greater positive impact in Seattle.”

Aligning with Schools and Neighborhoods

SUYI is one of Seattle University’s strongest examples of campus and community alignment. Each year, roughly 140 students work part-time in local schools and neighborhood programs, supported through work-study and other funding sources.

Under the quarter system, recruitment begins in September, training stretches into October and November and consistent engagement takes hold in winter and spring. A semester calendar will allow recruitment to begin in August, followed by training in September and programming in October. Because Seattle Public Schools already operate on a semester calendar, the university’s shift creates a stronger match with school-year timelines and community needs. Planning becomes smoother for everyone involved and students can remain engaged through the end of the school year, strengthening relationships with children and families.

Building Community into the Curriculum

The move to semesters also connects with broader curriculum updates. CCE helped design a new first-year Signature Seminar that will introduce students to Seattle itself. Courses will explore the city’s history, neighborhoods, challenges and strengths, offering students a grounded understanding of where they live and study.

Later, as part of the Core Curriculum, a required capstone course will include a community engagement component. Students will not only learn about community issues but they will also take initiative and put their learning into action.

“The move to semesters, along with the creation of the new Signature Seminar and the development of the new capstone Core course, will make SU a national model for an undergraduate curriculum that pursues academic rigor through community engagement,” Koth says.

Under a semester structure, faculty anticipate more substantial, credit-bearing community-engaged learning experiences because there is time to design projects that extend across most of the term. Community partners can plan with greater confidence.

“While the transition to the semester system is a heavy lift for all of us, I’m so excited for the potential for community-engaged courses to offer deeper student learning and greater community impact,” Koth says.

A Win for Students and Partners

The win is shared. Students gain deeper, more sustained engagement opportunities. Faculty gain more flexibility to design projects that apply coursework to real-world issues. K-12 schools and nonprofit partners gain a more consistent Seattle University presence.

All of this reflects what CCE sees every day: When students spend more time in the neighborhood, learning is enriched, relationships grow and impact deepens.

By creating more time in community, the semesters calendar strengthens the connection between campus and the city. It advances Seattle University’s commitment to educating the whole person, serving the common good and helping create a more just and humane world.