Strengthening Campus-Community Collaboration
October 30, 2025
Written by Kari Borne
On October 23, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Community-Based Learning (CBL) Program, housed in the UW-Whitewater School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education, hosted the Partners in Community-Based Learning breakfast. The event, led by Dr. Jodie Parys, Director of the CBL Program, brought together faculty, students, and representatives from local community organizations to explore opportunities for collaboration.
A highlight of the morning was a panel showcasing a recent cybersecurity CBL project created through a partnership between a UWW cybersecurity class and the Whitewater Unified School District. UWW faculty member Dr. Roger Yin (Information Technology and Supply Chain Management), Information Technology major Trevor Finley, and district representative Kannan Heath reflected on how this collaboration enhanced digital safety education while providing valuable hands-on learning experiences for students.
Community partners also shared insights into their current needs and discussed potential areas for future collaboration with UWW. These conversations help align academic expertise with community priorities in ways that are mutually beneficial for student learning and community impact.
The event exemplified how CBL, one of UWW’s High-Impact Practices, builds meaningful bridges between campus and community, preparing students to learn, serve, and lead beyond the classroom.