Community-Engaged Learning & Scholarship mini-grant

Any UNR instructor currently teaching or planning to teach a Service-Learning designated course, or whose course is in the process of becoming SL-designated in Curriculog, is encouraged to apply. Faculty or staff with relevant experience in critical community engagement or CELS who are not currently teaching a course may also qualify.

OSLCE will provide up to $1,000 per academic year (August through May) to each grantee or project. CELS Mini-Grants last for a semester or the entire academic year (August through May). After the grant period ends, recipients must return any unused funds to OSLCE. These funds support course supplies or resources, professional or scholarly development, and CELS courses and research. Funds must be spent by the end of the semester and must follow guidelines for the use of state funds. 

Below is a list of allowable and unallowable expenses. If your application includes unallowable expenses, that amount will be excluded from the funding.

Allowable expenses

• Materials and supplies for projects with the community partner, or other expenses related to planning, implementing or evaluating CELS activities. This could include supplies for community work (e.g., materials for a project, paint for a mural and tools for a community garden) or the cost of purchasing a required book for each of your students.
• Travel expenses (airfare, hotel, per diem) for participating in a community engagement or CELS conference, delivering a CELS paper or presentation at an annual conference within the applicant's discipline or covering appropriate research costs. Verification of the applicant's attendance at the presentation or conference is required before funds are released.
• The hourly pay for a student teaching or research assistant in a CELS course can be requested up to the mini-grant amount. The applicant and their department are responsible for recruiting, hiring, training and managing timekeeping for the student they hire.
• Production and distribution of products that promote community engagement and CELS for the University, such as publications, tools, podcasts, videos, exhibits, datasets and training materials.

Contact the OSLCE Coordinator with any ideas not listed above.

Unallowable expenses

• Food, receptions and/or banquets
• Scholarships, awards, gifts or other prize monies
• Faculty course release time
• Reimbursement of mileage for travel to service sites
• Honorariums or stipends for guest speakers
• Travel insurance
• Lease of facilities
• Campaigning or political mailings
• Professional memberships

Members of the Office of Service-Learning & Civic Engagement (OSLCE Staff, the Service-Learning Council or the CES Program & Faculty Fellows) will review Mini-Grant proposals. Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria categories:

• Project Design and Goals: The project should have clear objectives, realistic and demonstrable outcomes, a carefully planned timeline and a sustainable plan to support critical community engagement or CELS beyond grant funding. Measuring outcomes is strongly encouraged and should include feedback from partner organizations if applicable.
• Mutual Benefit and Needs: The CELS Mini-Grant must have a positive impact on the community and address a specific need identified in collaboration with community members. Research, instructional products, and/or presentations and publications should be an innovative contribution to both the academic field and the community.
• Reflection and Integration: Proposals should clearly describe how reflection will be incorporated into the process and how project information will be shared with both the University and external audiences.
• Institutionalization of Community Engagement: The proposal must clearly explain how the funds will support the long-term institutionalization of community engagement or CELS.

Grantees are required to submit a final report at the end of the semester, which should include:

• The number of students or staff who participated in the service-learning or CELS course, opportunity or community-engaged project.
• The name(s) of the community partner(s) involved with the opportunity or course.
• The number of individuals impacted by the project.
• A reflection on the service-learning or CELS experience, course or community-engaged project, including its outcomes for the instructor, students and community partners.
• Share results via a presentation, article, conference or OSLCE newsletter feature.
• The final budget and proof of purchases submitted into Workday by the applicant's department.

Feedback from community partners may be collected as part of this reporting process when appropriate. Additional follow-up might be requested depending on the type of funding request.

If you have any questions, please contact the OSLCE Coordinator.

Proposals should include the following content:

• • Brief description: A 150-word summary of the project, which may be shared publicly.
  • Project narrative: A description of the proposed project that addresses the above criteria.
  • Timeline: A descriptive timeline illustrating when key activities will be completed and by whom.
  • Budgets and budget narrative: A detailed budget explaining how the funds will be used to support CELS, engaged scholarship or critical community engagement.
  • Sustainability: The proposal must clearly explain how the funds will support the long-term sustainability of critical community engagement or CELS.
  • Letter of support: A signed letter of support from the applicant's direct supervisor, department chair or dean.

The CELS Mini-Grant application must include a project explanation and overview, proposed funds and a brief reflection. Applications are typically due by the second Friday of the semester, and participants have until the end of each semester to submit their deliverables. Those accepted for the opportunity will need to sign a letter of support from their department chair or direct supervisor.