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Volume 5, Issue 7, October 19, 2023

Sarah Toothman |

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Blue and Yellow logo: West Virginia University Center for Community Engagement

ACADEMIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTER

Volume 5, Issue 7

October 19, 2023
 
The WVU Center for Community Engagement (CCE) aims to leverage university knowledge and resources to support effective partnerships with communities that enhance discovery through community-engaged teaching, scholarship, and action. The Center supports faculty, staff, and students in working with external partners to meet reciprocal and mutually beneficial needs and advance WVU’s land grant mission.
   /Service & Learning Spotlight 
Honors 102 at North Elementary Garden
Students standing in a garden. Some are wearing gardening gloves.
Student using an electric screwdriver to fix a raised garden bed with sprouts growing
Two students weeding a raised garden bed

West Virginia University Honors College is actively expanding the program’s initiative to forge strong community partnerships and engaged learning programs through service. Honors 102 students lent their time and support to North Elementary Garden to assist with nurturing healthy futures and sustaining educational garden-learning projects for local students.  

Freshman Elementary Education major, Laken Copenhaver, expressed, “Being able to see the school and envision the kids having fun after our community service is important to me.”  

Through service projects supported by the Center for Community Engagement, Honors 102 students forge lasting connections and gain new insights into the culture of volunteerism at West Virginia University.  
   /P2A Spotlight
Katie Harminson, The Shack Neighborhood House
Text: Katie 101; Year: Freshman, Partner: The Shack Neighborhood House; Hometown: Martinsburg, WV; Her Favorite Artist: Taylor Swift; Her go-to TV show: Gilmore Girls; Her Favorite Place to Visit in WV: Cooper's Rock. Photo of Katie sitting on a WV almost heaven swing
Purpose 2 Action (P2A) student, Katie Harmison, shared her fantastic role serving at The Shack Neighborhood House during the Fall 2023 semester. Through this program, West Virginia University students receive an hourly stipend while volunteering at a local community organization. This unique internship experience allows students to explore new career fields and gain valuable skills in connection to their academic ventures. 

What is the greatest thing you have learned during your time in P2A?

"The greatest thing I have learned is how much I truly love kids. I've worked with kids for about four years now. They can change your life. Having a connection with these kids has made my life so much better. Serving, but having an amazing time at the same time is something I'll never forget."

Why is it important for college students to serve their community?

"Giving back to a community is huge. Not only does it help the community, but it also helps you grow as a person. It can truly change your life in a positive way."

Learn more about participating in P2A as a student or community partner through the Center for Community Engagement here.
   /Impact Award Nominations
Campus Compact Impact Award 2023
Maroon border with five photos. From left to right: Man leaning against a table pointing at students sitting in desks; College campus with palm trees; Woman leaning over a young adult who is sitting at a table, presumably a tutoring situation; college campus with trees without leaves; two adults standing next to each other looking at a paper in the woman's hand. Text: Impact Award
Don't miss your chance to nominate a colleague to win a Campus Compact Impact Award! 

The Campus Compact Impact Awards are awarded each year to outstanding faculty, community engagement professionals, and campuses that have demonstrated transformational leadership in pursuit of the public purposes of higher education. Individuals may nominate others for the awards or submit applications on their own behalf. 

Submission deadline: October 25, 2023 
   /WVU Community Opportunities

Proposal Development Workshop - WVU Research Office
This workshop will provide an overview of the services offered by the WVU Research Office to help develop a competitive proposal. You will learn how to successfully navigate the path to proposal submission, from crafting a concept paper in order to solicit feedback from a program officer, to transitioning that concept paper into a full submission. Join the workshop on Zoom on Thursday, October 26. Faculty who cannot attend the full session are welcome to drop in at their convenience.
Date: Thursday, October 26, 11 AM - 1 PM


Community Engagement and The Socio-Ecological Model
flyer for the ACE Session
Join this stimulating panel discussion on "Community Engagement and The Socio-Ecological Model." By embracing the socio-ecological model's contextual richness, we can embrace diverse strategies to promote healthy development and nurture well-being.  This event is hosted by the WVU Center for Community Engagement.
Date: Thursday, October 26, 1 PM - 1:50 PM


Getting through: Healthcare Worker Resilience in West Virginia 
The Neal Museum, a unit of WVU Libraries, is seeking stories and objects for an exhibit highlighting the community work and efforts of healthcare professionals and support staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Proposal deadline: November 1, 2023

Locating Journals to Publish Educational Topics
Join WVU Libraries as they explore journal rankings in Web of Science and publishing opportunities in open-access journals. 
Date: November 9, 2023, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM

Communicating with Students in Distress - Carruth Center
Join this in-person interactive session. You will practice communication strategies and learn about helpful resources available on campus to students in distress. 
Date: October 25, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Teach for OLLI at West Virginia University
Are you interested in imparting knowledge to lifelong learners? The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WVU is seeking volunteer instructors and presenters for the upcoming semesters via in-person or Zoom. Designated for older adults, OLLI offers non-credit classes in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
Proposal deadlines: Spring Term: January 2, 2024
 
   /Academic Community Engagement Consultations
The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) works with faculty, instructors, staff, and graduate students within all disciplines to design or refine community-engaged courses, programs, and research.  The CCE is a resource hub; we aim to support your efforts in shaping impactful experiences for your students and partners.   

You're invited to schedule a conversation with the Academic Community Engagement team.
   /AmeriCorps Member Spotlight 
Meet Ebony Martin, WVU Extension's Civil Rights and Diversity VISTA!
Text: Ebony Martin WVU Extension Services; "I support WVU Extension to ensure civil rights compliance in all Extension programs." -on USDA Civil Rights Review AmeriCorps, Civil Rights and Diversity VISTA Photo: Portrait of Ebony Martin

Where are you from? Morgantown, WV 

What is the overview of your role? I supporting WVU Extension to ensure civil rights compliance in all Extension programs. 

Why did you join AmeriCorps? I was looking for something to do while finishing my thesis and I liked the experience I could gain from serving in Extension. 

What has been your favorite activity or accomplishment since starting your service? I supported Extension in retrieving data required for the USDA civil rights review. In the end, 400 documents were shared in preparation for the next processes in the audit. Additionally, over the summer I visited 14 of our 4H camps and will be sending out reviews to their county leaders at the end of the year. These reviews will assess the performance of the camp, give critical feedback and praise, and make recommendations. 
AmeriCorps West Virginia logo, blue and white
   /AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps VISTAs assist with building capacity and supporting the mission of host sites.  AmeriCorps VISTA members use their skills to develop, enhance, and sustain engagement programs.

VISTA members are awarded to West Virginia University, WVU Beckley, WVU Keyser, and Extension Service departments, colleges, and programs, including non-academic departments and programs.

Go to the Center for Community Engagement - AmeriCorps website to learn more about open positions or to become a host site.
 
/iServe Support

WVU Faculty, staff, students, and community partners may schedule a 1:1 iServe consultation for personalized support with navigating the special features of WVU's volunteer management system.  Book your appointment by emailing iserve@mail.wvu.edu. 
 
/Community Outreach and Resources

Strong community partnerships take time to develop. Jumpstart your Community Engaged course or project by contacting the Center for Community Engagement today!
We gathered some innovative external opportunities to inform and support your community engagement work, and to share your perspective on important topics.
   /Curated Reading
University and Community Schools | Netter Center for Community Partnerships Journal 

This issue features articles largely written by graduate students whose scholarship involves community-engaged research. Universities and Community Schools are designed to help spark a worldwide informal movement that aims to overcome major community and social problems by developing place-based, mutually transformative, innovative partnerships between universities and schools.


Inclusion and Trust in Community-Engaged Scholarship: A Case Study of a County Visioning Project 
Journal of Extension, Vol. 61, Number 2 
Ava Ryan, Mark Edwards, and J. Dusti Linnell

Local governments have aimed to boost community participation in collaborative governance, including community visioning and strategic planning, to create inclusive policies. This article examines how trust played a vital role in a community visioning project in Tillamook County, Oregon. 


Exploring the Possibilities of a Standardized Questionnaire for Assessing Residents' Needs 
Journal of Extension, Vol. 61, Issue 2 
A. Harder, D. Craig, G. Israel, M. Benge, O. Caillouet

Creating a standardized needs assessment instrument and methodology that can be shared across the Extension system can lead to increased capacity to identify the needs of our clientele. The purpose of our study was to determine if a questionnaire originally created to assess needs in Utah could be used to identify priority areas for programming in other areas. 
   /Grants and Awards
Celebrating the ethical leadership and advocacy demonstrated by higher education community engagement professionals.
Nominations and applications due by October 25, 2023

Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award
Recognizing senior faculty for exemplary engaged scholarship.
Nominations and applications due by October 25, 2023
Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement
Recognizing full-time, pre-tenured faculty who connect their teaching, research, and service to community engagement.
Nominations and applications due by October 25, 2023
 
Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC)
The S&CC program supports integrated research that addresses fundamental technological and social science dimensions of smart and connected communities and pilots' solutions together with communities. 
Proposals Accepted by: April 1, 2024
   /Events, Workshops, and Conferences

Stepping into the Work: Expanding Understanding of Global Positionality, Responsibility, and Opportunity
hosted by the Collaborative Institute at Haverford College
November 9 - 11, 2023

Place-Based Education Conference
hosted by The Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative
November 9 - 11, 2023

Community Conversations: The Elements of Community Partnerships
hosted by Michigan State University
November 13, 2023 

West Virginia Rural Health Conference: Lighting the Way for Rural Health
hosted by WVRHA
November 15 - 17, 2023
Community-Engaged Learning in the Classroom; Rubrics, Reflections, and Resources
This session will discuss creative examples, strategies for grading, and best practices for leading students to reflect upon and make meaning of their community-engaged learning experiences. 
December 6, 2023 l 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. 

Winter '24 Institute on Teaching Social Action
Bonner Foundation
Application due Dec. 15, 2023
January 3 - 5, 2024

2024 AAC&U Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment
Virtual Options: April 2024
   /Requests For Proposals

The National Service-Learning Conference - From Passion to Action
This is the largest and most comprehensive global convening for service learning educators, nonprofit leaders, administrators, students, and more! Share your experience and story by applying to present a Workshop, Lightening Talk, or Showcase. 
Submission Deadline: October 20, 2023

Civic Science for Transformative Policy Solutions for Societal Challenges
Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG), Sigma Xi and the Rita Allen Foundation 
This Special Issue will promote the concept of civic science to broad audiences, provide a platform for emerging leaders to showcase their work's policy implications and elevate policies needed to advance civic science initiatives to serve society. 
Submission deadline: October 29, 2023

2024 PACE Conference | Call for Conference Proposals
Proposals for the Pathways to Achieving Civic Engagement (PACE) Conference is seeking proposals for sessions that will inform or advance the research and practice of community and civic engagement through research findings, innovative program design and partnership models, proven community/institutional impacts, effective curriculum or co-curricular models, institutional capacity building and institutionalization, or successful community engagement practices. 
Proposal deadline: Nov. 17th, 2023

Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
For its two issues of 20,24, ELTHE seeks articles that develop broad, actionable definitions of experiential learning. See the latest call for peer-reviewed articles for details.
To be included in the April 2024 issue: Submit by November 1, 2023
To be included in the November 2024 issue: Submit by May 1, 2024

Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning 
The MJCSL seeks lively and original articles on research and theory. pedagogy. and other issues pertinent to civic engagement, campus-community partnerships, curriculum-based and co-curricular service-learning, and engaged scholarship in higher education. The aspiration is to appeal to both scholars and educated "lay" readers such as university students, policy professionals, activists, and anyone who may be interested in complex and interconnected ways we engage one another. 
View opportunities on the CCE webpage: 
https://communityengagement.wvu.edu/faculty-staff/opportunities
Pleas share updates about your Academic Community Engaged efforts by emailing serveandlearn@mail.wvu.edu or by filling out this Qualtrics form: https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2gfaFOE62FiFfQq

The Center for Community Engagement team members are committed to:

  • Facilitating faculty and academic staff in integrating civic and community engagement experiences seamlessly into their coursework, research, and programs.
  • Empowering students to actively participate in positive change by providing opportunities for social action, leadership development, and meaningful engagement with civic and community initiatives.
  • Creating connections between community organizations and dedicated students, faculty, and staff who share a common goal of promoting positive social change
Did you receive this Academic Community Engagement Newsletter from someone else? You can subscribe here. 
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