Community-Engaged and Service-Learning Course Grants
Overview
Community-Engaged and Service-Learning (CESL) course enrichment grants support UVA and UVA-Wise faculty in the development and instruction of community-based courses. The program’s dual goals are to 1) broaden UVA students’ opportunities to take courses employing the high-impact teaching practices of service learning and community-based learning and 2) support the development of mutually beneficial and collaborative partnerships between UVA faculty and individuals or organizations in the greater community.
Eligible participating faculty will receive wages ($4,000) to support them in the design or re-design of community-based courses. Participating faculty will be asked to undertake the course design process in collaboration with a previously identified community partner. The CESL program offers an additional $3,000 which may be disbursed to community partners in the form of honoraria, and/or used to support the delivery of the course (e.g. course materials, class travel, class events). Please see the section Funding Details for full information.
Eligibility
University of Virginia and UVA College at Wise faculty members teaching undergraduate, graduate, or professional student courses are eligible to apply. Joint applications from collaborating faculty are welcome. Twelve-month employees are ineligible to receive wages from the CESL program, but they are eligible to receive funds to support the delivery of courses (e.g. course materials and activities) and to pay honoraria to community partners.
Expectations
Participating faculty for whom community-based teaching is new or who may benefit from stronger colleague support, as judged by their application materials, will be asked to participate in a one-day course design session during the spring or summer of 2024. All participating faculty will consult with CESL Faculty Fellow, C.L. Bohannon, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Associate Dean for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the School of Architecture, on best practices in community-based course development. All participants are encouraged to attend bi-weekly meetings of the CESL Faculty Learning Community, forums for exploration and exchanges centered on community-engaged scholarship, which are open to all faculty regardless of their participation in the grant program.
Funding Details
Faculty accepted into the CESL faculty will be awarded in the form of:
- Wages: $4,000 in the form of wages. University policy prohibits awarding twelve-month employees with additional wages, but twelve-month faculty are still eligible to apply for course support funding (below). Some departments may permit instructors to take $4,000 in the form of research funds.
- Course Support: Up to $3,000 which may be allocated to course-related expenses, including but not limited to: class trips (transportation, tickets, etc.); course and community events; purchasing materials to support community-based projects (e.g. equipment, office materials), and honoraria for community partners.
How to apply
Please submit your proposal to Ellen Blackmon at [email protected] by 10:00 pm on February
14, 2024. This proposal must include:
- Title of the class and semester(s) it will be offered.
- Description of the class including how community-engaged teaching is incorporated. (1 page)
- Statement from a community partner confirming their commitment to engage with the faculty member and students throughout the course. (1-2 pages)
- Statement from department chair in support of offering this course as described (1 page)
- A preliminary budget totaling up to $3,000 detailing how you intend to utilize funds for teaching, in-class activities, student engagement, or support of your community partner.
For questions, please contact Ellen Blackmon, [email protected]