Community Partners
Community partners connect students to firsthand service and engagement experiences. These experiences expose students to social issues, communities, and services that are central and current to their lives. Thayne Center connects students to community partners through a series of programs: SLCC serves, Community Work Study, Alternative Breaks, Community Gardens, and volunteer opportunities. Through the knowledge and skills developed, students are empowered to be leaders and agents of change within SLCC and the community.
Thayne Center offers robust programming for student involvement opportunities and areas for community partners to support and connect with students. We encourage community partners to participate in one of the Thayne Center programs to help students connect with their community and provide leadership through hands on service.
Day of Service
Days of Service is held once every Fall and Spring Semester. Taking staff, students, and faculty off-campus to partake in a service opportunity at one of our Community Partner sites.
Monthly Service Projects
Monthly Service Projects serve as entry point to the Thayne Center and its various programs. Service Projects will serve to introduce students to concepts of service and provide students opportunities to connect with other peers from Salt Lake Community College.
Service Opportunities
The Thayne Center for Student Life, Leadership, and Community Engagement connects students with resources to find service opportunities with community partners. Students can get involved in both one-time and ongoing service opportunities to make a meaningful impact and build skills to be leaders in the community.
Community Work Study
Community Work-Study (CWS) at SLCC is part of the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program through the Thayne Center. It offers paid, part-time jobs to students with financial need, allowing them to earn money while gaining experience in their field of interest. CWS connects students with community organizations to build leadership and career skills through hands-on, competency-based learning. Students apply classroom knowledge, reflect on their impact, and deepen their understanding of community engagement—all while being compensated through federal aid.
Alternative Break Experiences
Alternative Break is an immersive, multi-day program at SLCC’s Thayne Center, offering students hands-on service, education, and reflection during fall and spring breaks. Through experiential learning trips across Utah and the U.S., student groups—led by peers and supported by site advisors—partner with communities on projects addressing social issues. The program builds leadership skills and fosters a lifelong commitment to community engagement.
Community Gardens
SLCC Community Gardens are here to provide space for our students, faculty, and staff to practice sustainable gardening and empower them to grow their own fresh produce.
Community Engagement Fair
The Community Engagement Fair is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to directly connect with community partners to learn about different service opportunities and resources in the community.
To become a community partner, your organization will need to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Thayne Center. SLCC community partners have many benefits.
Access to Campus Groups
Campus Groups is Salt Lake Community College’s student involvement platform. Community partners can post service opportunities, events, and share information for students to learn more about your organization.
Participation at Tabling Events
SLCC offers large tabling events in the fall and spring semester. During the fall, Thayne Center hosts a Community Engagement Fair. For the spring semester, we partner with the Mega Resource Fair and invite community partners table along side with campus resources and student clubs.
Participation in Community Partner Meetings
These meetings are opportunities for community partners to receive updates about SLCC, network with other community organizations, and learn how to elevate your engagement with SLCC students.
Highlighted in SLCC Serves Newsletter and SLCC Today
Each month, the Thayne Center will highlight a community partner and different service opportunities in the SLCC Services Newsletter and in the SLCC Today. SLCC Today is a weekly electronic communication with news, updates, and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.
You'll also receive additional marketing support through Thayne Center social media, Campus Groups, etc.
The Thayne Center strives to provide opportunities for our students to be leaders through community engagement. We encourage our students to engage with community partners that align with the college’s mission and who center our students, their learning, and ability to empower them as community change agents. If your organization is interested in being a community partner with the Thayne Center and are able to support our students in their journey to becoming leaders and academic success, please review the criteria for partners and follow the steps below to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director for Community Engagement and complete the Community Partner Intake Form. This meeting is an opportunity for the Assistant Director for Community Engagement to learn more about your organizations, the community you serve, and discuss collaboration opportunities through Thayne Center programs.
Criteria for Partners
- Be a community based group/organization, non-profit, or public agency serving community needs.
- Be accessible to Salt Lake Community College students.
- Provide service opportunities that foster learning objectives.
- Provide proof of liability insurance.
- Have a responsible contact person who will:
- Update Thayne Center on organization communication changes
- Respond to student inquiries in a timely manner
- Confirm with students and coordinators about service opportunities
- Communicate with Thayne Center and students about problems and successes
- Ensure students are oriented, trained, and supervised
- Follow guidelines on the SLCC Community Organization Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
- Be interested in providing co-curricular opportunities to SLCC students.
Schedule a Meeting with the Assistant Director for Community Engagement
Schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director for Community Engagement. The meeting can be done virtually or in person. Before your meeting, please complete the Community Partner Intake Form.
Is it time to renew my organization's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)?
The Thayne Center prioritizes ensuring that the students have intentional and quality opportunities to be leaders in the community. To ensure this, all community partners must complete an MOU to formalize our relationship and to have a presence on Campus Groups and Community Engagement Fairs. The MOU remains in effect for 3 years, but it can be renewed or revisited every year if necessary. If you need to renew or revisit your MOU, or have questions about your existing MOU, please schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director for Community Engagement.
Campus Groups
Campus Groups is Salt Lake Community College’s student involvement platform. As a Thayne Center recognized community partner, you have access to your own Campus Groups page where you can post service opportunities, events, and share information for students to learn more about your organization. Additionally, many of our SLCC staff and faculty use Campus Groups to look for community partners for their community engagement leave benefits and community-engaged learning course; making Campus Groups a wonderful resource for you and our college community to connect.
If you have questions about Campus Groups or would like to strengthen your Campus Groups page, please contact Savannah O’Sickey at sosickey@slcc.edu.
Community Partners Meeting
Each semester the Thayne Center hosts a Community Partners meeting to share information about SLCC and programs within the Thayne Center. This is also space to highlight different Thayne Center programs, institutional updates, and connect with other community partners with similar missions and intentions.
Community Partners Meetings Schedule for 2025-2026 Academic Year
October 15, 2025
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Taylorsville Redwood Campus, Student Center Building, Oak Room
4600 South Redwood Road
Salt Lake City, Utah
March 11, 2026
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Taylorsville Redwood Campus, Student Center Building, Oak Room
4600 South Redwood Road
Salt Lake City, Utah
If you are currently a community partner with the Thayne Center and would like to attend the Fall Community Partners Meeting, please register using the button below.
REGISTER FOR COMMUNITY PARTNER MEETING
As a Thayne Center community partner, you have the opportunity to participate in tabling events hosted by the college and the Thayne Center. These are an excellent way for community partners to directly connect with SLCC students, faculty, and staff.
Community Engagement Fair
The Community Engagement Fair offers students a chance to connect with local community partners and learn about the people and causes they support. It is an opportunity for students to discover meaningful service opportunities, develop their leadership in community engagement, and empower their ability to make a real impact. Hosted by the Thayne Center, this event strengthens the relationship between students and community organizations, fostering a sense of belonging, building skills for social change, and supporting students on their path to graduation.
We encourage community partners to participate in this fair to recruit volunteers and share information about the resources and services your organization offers. This is a great opportunity for community partners to directly connect with students, faculty, and staff!
Register to Table
Other Upcoming Opportunities
Spring 2026 Mega Resource Fair – Dates to be Announced!
The Thayne Center has opportunities for staff and faculty to be involved with some of our Thayne Center community engagement programs.
Day of Service Site Advisor
The role of Site Advisor for SLCCServes Day of Service is to be the lead person/point of contact at their assigned service site. This person will help with logistics and help create a positive & impactful experience for participants. You will also be responsible for helping your group engage in a meaningful reflection to gain more insight on the service project and the experience. This is a great opportunity to engage with SLCC students and learn more about the community partners doing incredible work in the Salt Lake area!
Fall/Spring Alternative Break Site Advisor
Alternative Breaks are multi-day, immersive service and learning experiences that explore and address important social issues. Fall alternative breaks are held locally and spring alternative breaks are local and domestic. Each break is co-led by a Alternative Break peer leader and a site advisor. As a site advisor, you will assist with leading trips, reflections, driving responsibilities, and student safety. A site leader must be a full time staff or faculty member of the college.
If you are interested in increasing your student interaction and connecting with our community partners, please complete the Thayne Center Advisor Interest Form.
Community Engagement Leave Information
One of the many wonderful benefits of Salt Lake Community College is our Community Engagement Leave. The community engagement leave process is managed by People and Workplace Culture. If you have questions regarding community engagement leave, please visit the Human Resources webpage or email: HR@slcc.edu, front desk: (801) 957-4210
If you are looking for a community partner for your community engagement leave, you can visit the Community Partners list. You are not limited to this list, for more information about the community engagement leave benefit, please visit the community engagement leave policy and procedure.
