Community Engaged Teaching Fellowship
The Community Engaged Teaching Fellowship is a faculty development program that provides an opportunity for selected faculty members to support the institutionalization of community engagement at the University of Nevada, Reno. Community engagement is a core theme of the University’s mission as a land grant university that aspires to “strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of Nevada citizens, communities, organizations, and governments through community outreach and reciprocal partnerships” (UNR Mission Statement, 2016). Additionally, the University has been formally designated by the Carnegie Foundation as an “engaged” institution, so the continued development and improvement of community engagement initiatives is essential.
Program purpose & goals
The purpose of the CET Fellowship is to support the institutionalization of the community engaged teaching and learning at the university. It is expected that the work of each community engaged teaching fellow will contribute to the implementation and achievement of this engagement initiative through the following program goals:
- Cultivate a cohesive, university-wide philosophy and mission of community engaged teaching
- Strengthen faculty support for and involvement in community engaged teaching
- Increase student support for and involvement in community engaged learning
- Encourage community participation in implementing community engaged teaching
- Advance institutional support for community engaged teaching
Program goals are aligned with the five major dimensions of community engagement in higher education: (a) mission and philosophy, (b) faculty support, (c) student support, (d) community participation, and (e) institutional support (Furco et al., 2009).
Participation commitments and requirements
The CET Fellowship is a 12-month program that will require selected faculty to commit to the following:
- Devote, on average, a minimum of two hours per week (30 hours per semester) to fellowship activities
- Attend a required orientation in September 2022 and two CET Fellowship meetings (December 2022 and May 2023)
- Submit monthly activities reports
- Demonstrate full engagement in and completion of the program requirements (listed below)
There are two primary requirements of this program:
- Fellows will generate interest in and provide support for community engaged teaching initiatives on campus. Fellows will be required to do items a or b, c and d:
- Host an informational presentation, workshop, or brown bag for University faculty aimed at developing specific CET course components (e.g., reflection); OR
- Give a presentation to University Leadership (i.e., at college leadership, associate deans, faculty senate, or at the engagement symposium) with the goal of deepening administrators’ awareness and understanding of community engaged teaching within and across disciplines.
- Review student poster submissions at the Engagement Symposium, which occurs twice a year in December and May.
- If invited, present at a session of the Community Engaged Teaching Certificate Program.
- Fellows will complete a project aimed at promoting the institutionalization of community engaged teaching at the University. Fellows will be required to:
- Develop a project proposal aimed at contributing to the sustained institutionalization of up to 3 categories from the Assessment Rubric for Institutionalizing Community Engagement in Higher Education (Furco et al., 2009).
- Present on the status of the project at the December 2022 and May 2023 CET Fellowship meetings.
- Complete the project over the year-long duration of the fellowship by August 2023.
Commitment to full participation in the program is required for consideration as a CET Fellow.
CET fellows will receive a $1,500 stipend for their participation in the program. Funds will be distributed in two installments: $750 at the start of the 2022-23 academic year and $750 at the completion of the fellowship program following the submission of the final project and end-of-year activities report. Additional resources for projects may be requested and will be approved at the discretion of OSLCE.
To be considered for the 2022-2023 Community Engaged Teaching Fellowship program, please submit the following by September 9, 2022.
- Complete the Community Engaged Teaching Fellowship Application form, which includes the CET Fellowship Project Planning Worksheet.
- Complete the CET Fellowship Commitment, which includes obtaining the signature of the department chair indicating their acknowledgment and support for program participation.
Selected fellows will be notified by September 19, 2022.
OSLCE encourages applicants to apply alongside a colleague or community partner. If applying as a pair, please indicate the name of your colleague and their department or community member and their organization on the application. If selected, each Fellow will receive the full stipend.
The program is open to University faculty members with an interest in community engaged scholarship. Community partners are invited to apply if working in partnership with a University faculty member.
Fellows are selected by the Office of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement and the Provost’s Service-Learning Council. Fellows are selected based on the faculty member’s commitment to community engaged teaching and learning. Applications will be reviewed for the following required and preferred qualifications.
- Completion of the Community Engaged Teaching Certificate Program or equivalent program is desired.
- Commitment of the faculty member to participate in all program requirements.
- A well-conceived CET project proposal with a clearly-defined rationale for its alignment with University goals.