Community-Engaged Department Designation

The unique “citizen scholar” mission of USU’s General Education program empowers students to develop intellectually, personally, and culturally, so they may serve the people of Utah, the nation, and the world. Citizen scholars graduate equipped to participate and lead in local, regional, national, and global communities. In order to truly develop citizen scholars, USU must integrate knowledge of, exposure to, and partnership with the broader community into research, academics, and co-curricular experiences.

Community-Engaged Departments/Programs lead the institution in the development of engaged citizen scholars by aligning with the public purpose of higher education and integrating community engagement into departmental mission, climate, and culture. As described by Campus Compact, community-engaged departments are those who have adopted strategies for including community-based work in their teaching and scholarship, making community-based experiences a standard expectation for majors, and encouraging civic and community engagement at the department level.

To obtain the Community-Engaged Department/Program designation, a department must show they have developed a culture that rewards and encourages community-engaged work completed by students, faculty, and staff. Department/program policies should include community engagement language, and engagement opportunities should be blended into research, academic, and co-curricular work.

Questions?

Nelda Ault-Dyslin, CCE Asst. Director
Community-Engaged Learning
nelda.ault@usu.edu
435-797-1740

Kate Stephens, Director
Center for Community Engagement
kate.stephens@usu.edu
435-797-8135

Self-assessment rubric

Community-Engaged Department Proposal Form

Follow Ups:

*All of these courses are currently designated or intend to be designated CEL?
*How is Community Engagement (CE) systematically tracked and assessed by your department? if other, add details below

If less than 10% of courses contain a CEL component and/or your department does not have a mechanism in place for tracking and assessing community engagement, please contact the CCE Assistant Director of CEL to learn how your department can meet the necessary requirements for the Community-Engaged Department designation.

If your department offers more than 10% of courses as CEL and you have a mechanism in place for tracking and assessing community engagement, we invite you to complete the proposal narrative below and submit your application for designation.

Proposal Narrative

How will your department engage faculty, students, and community partners using the Engaged Department Rubric (Kecskes, 2008)? Please use the self-assessment rubric as a guide and address the following questions. Existing Community-Engaged Departments should focus on ways in which community engagement has become deeper and more pervasive in their department since the last designation.

  • How does your department’s mission and culture support community engagement? What organizational and leadership support exists for these efforts?
  • Is there a shared definition of community engagement? Does the department foster an inclusive climate for Community-Engaged Learning (CEL)?
  • How are faculty engaged in community-based work? Are there incentives for teaching CEL courses? Are faculty encouraged and rewarded for pursuing research initiatives that engage community?
  • What partnerships exist, and why were specific partners chosen? We encourage collaboration with the USU Center for Community Engagement to identify partners with established agreements.
  • How are students involved in community engagement? How are they informed about opportunities?
  • What other community engagement initiatives are occurring across the department?

 

We truly appreciate your commitment to community engagement at USU and look forward to working with you to get your department officially designated as a Community-Engaged Department. 

Thanks so much!

My department head has reviewed the proposal and is supportive of it.