Social Impact Practicum Incubator

  • students crouched examining a culvert

    Students in Prof. Boke's Anthropology of Disaster course, partnered with Black River Action Team and Cavendish Connects.

  • group shot of students in a museum

    Students in Prof. Harner's God, Darwin, and the Literary Imagination course, partnered with Fairbanks Museum.

  • Students playing a card game
  • Students dancing Argentine Tango with community partners

    Students in Prof. Cirnigliario's Tango Argentino: Music, Dance, and Poetry course, partnered with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center-Arts

Overview

A Social Impact Practicum (SIP) is a collaborative project with a local community partner carried out by students in a Dartmouth course. As a form of experiential, community-engaged learning, SIPs enhance student motivation and learning, powerfully illustrating the real world impact of course concepts and skills. And, because SIPs involve sustained, relationship-based work with community partners, they emphasize forms of learning and collaboration that are not easily replicated through AI tools. In SIPs, students take on many different kinds of meaningful work including data analysis, research design, policy and advocacy development, creative work, and one-on-one engagement with community members

The Social Impact Practicum Incubator supports faculty in designing and launching a new SIP—from initial concept through partnership matching, course implementation, and post-course reflection. The program is designed to help you build a sustainable, high-impact community-engaged course tailored to your teaching goals and disciplinary context.

Program Structure and Support

Selected faculty will receive a $4,000 stipend in support of their participation, along with the following structured guidance and resources:

  • SIP Framing Consultation: One-on-one consultation to develop your course concept and define the scope and parameters for a successful community partnership. 
  • DCSI-facilitated partner matching: Drawing on our established relationships with over 100 community partners, and a database of proposed projects, we help you find the right partner for your class.
  • Development Workshops: Two to three one-hour workshops offered throughout the academic year. Workshop topics and scheduling will be shaped by participant interests, availability, and course timelines. Potential topics might be:
    • Building and sustaining community partnerships
    • Designing SIP assignments grounded in project-based and community-engaged learning principles
    • Structuring and supporting student group work
  • Post-SIP Reflection: A one-on-one consultation following your course to reflect on outcomes and refine your SIP for future iterations.
  • Additional Resources: Participants will also have access to the DCSI SIP repository and related materials, as well as ongoing consultation with Lee Franklin, DCSI Associate Director.

 

Timeline

  • Information Session: Friday, May 22, 12:30–1:30 PM, DCAL (Baker 102)
    • Hear from experienced SIP faculty, community partners, and students. Lunch provided. Register here.
  • Application Deadline: Friday, June 12
  • Notification of Acceptance: June 26
  • Framing Consultations Begin: Mid-August