¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage: Center for Community-Based Learning and Research launches
Led by Faculty DirectorÌýÌýand Associate Directors Roudy Hildreth and Leticia Sanchez, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage expands upon the work of the former Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement (IECE), and directsÌý, including ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Dialogues, INVST Community Studies, Public Achievement and Puksta Scholars. In addition, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage is the home of theÌý, in collaboration with the Newton Chair in Leadership.
New Initiatives for Students and Faculty
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage is hosting ongoingÌýCommunity ConversationsÌýwith members of the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ campus, Boulder County, and the Denver metro area that continue to inform the center’s strategic planning and campus leadership in developing mutually beneficial, ethical partnerships. In addition, the center is offering several new opportunities:
Faculty Fellows Program in Community-Based Learning.ÌýFaculty members interested in developing academic courses that integrate student learning with community engagement are invited to join a cohort-based professional development opportunity that will focus on creating mutually beneficial partnerships among instructors, students, and community groups.³Õ¾±²õ¾±³ÙÌýÌýto learn more. Applications due Feb. 27.
Graduate Fellowship in Community-Based Research and Creative Work.ÌýDoctoral students are invited to apply to this cohort-based fellowship to gain training, financial support, and access to professional networks in collaborative, community-based forms of research and creative work.ÌýInterested doctoral students should emailÌýben.kirshner@colorado.eduÌýto be updated about the application instructions and deadline.
Undergraduate Participatory Action Research.ÌýSupported by theÌý, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage staff members work with undergraduate students to inquire and take action about issues relevant to their experiences and aspirations. OnÌýFeb. 11th, a UROP project team presented findings on the experiences of students of color with community engagement opportunities on campusÌýto a standing-room-only audience of campus and community members.
Why ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage?
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage offers one response to current challenges in higher education. In today’s workforce, employers are increasingly demanding that college graduates are prepared for the kinds of skills that can’t be measured on a traditional test: Can you work in teams? Do you persist after failure? Are you capable of participating in diverse cultural practices and groups?
Universities also play a central role in preparing students to become active participants in society who generate solutions to major public challenges, ranging from racial inequality to climate change. Learning how to participate in practices of a democracy, such as dialogue and group decision-making, and to engage in deliberation about evidence-based public policy are critical for human development and civic renewal.
To meet these demands, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engage aims to build a community of students, staff and faculty who integrate ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s academic mission with community engagement, consistent with ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder’sÌý.
The initiatives described above offer a starting point for the center’s work in forming equity-oriented partnerships, organizing opportunities for students to learn alongside community members, and supporting faculty and students in developing ethical and rigorous participatory research methods. To learn more, please visitÌý.
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Related Faculty: Ben Kirshner