Call for Presenters: The Challenge of Engagement

Posted by on February 3, 2006

[posted from Higher Ed Service-Learning listserv]

The Challenge of Engagement
The Third Annual University-Community Partnership Conference
Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center
July 12 – 14, 2006
Hosted by the Virginia Tech Service-Learning Center

REQUEST FOR PRESENTERS
Proposals Due: March 6, 2006

Are institutions of higher learning really committed to community engagement? In 1999, 500 college and university presidents signed the Presidents’ Declaration on the Civic Responsibility of Higher Education. The document claimed that college and university leaders had the fundamental task of renewing the role of higher education as agents of our democracy. But did this declaration result in institution-wide change? The purpose of the 2006 conference is to explore the challenge of engagement, especially as it links to the leadership and institutional missions of higher education. What tools are needed to foster authentic engagement that leads to transformation-both within higher education and in the communities where these institutions are located? How do university-community partnerships facilitate this transformation? What are examples of engagement that “works”?

Our Keynote Speaker, Donald Blake, formerly the Executive Director of Connecticut Campus Compact and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kentucky State University, opens the conference by sharing insights on the challenge of engagement gained over 45 years as an educator, corporate executive, administrator, and civil rights and community activist. Blake’s address is followed by facilitated discussion through Story Circles that draw forth participants’ stories, memories, and reflections on the meaning of authentic engagement.

Plenary speaker, Stephen Percy, Director of the Milwaukee Idea at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a co-author of the provocative document, Calling the Question: Is Higher Education Ready to Commit to Community Engagement?, provides further exploration of the conference theme by setting forth six promising practices that are critical to higher education’s commitment to community engagement.

Throughout, the conference will offer a rich combination of practical and interactive workshops, case studies, and researched presentations that provide participants a learning opportunity to launch their own partnership efforts and to examine critical issues and challenges that are foundational to partnership development and sustenance.

You are invited to contribute to the discussion. We are soliciting proposals that outline dynamic 45, 60 or 75-minute presentations that are interactive, applied, and lead participants to a concrete outcome. Preference is given to team presentations that include both community and university stakeholders. Specifically, we are interested in the following topical areas:

1. Explore the Mechanics of Building Partnerships. These sessions follow a workshop format that is interactive. Topics may include negotiating objectives that bridge university and community interests; developing memorandums of agreement; sharing risk and other legal matters related to partnership development; clarifying roles and responsibilities; leveraging institutional support; or measuring success. You may specify a participation limit for a Mechanics Workshop.

2. Demonstrate Best Practices in University-Community Partnerships. Best practices presentations give in-depth descriptions of working partnerships that have already achieved positive results in their communities, and address how the partnership met and overcame challenges on the road to success.

3. Engaged Scholarship. These presentations demonstrate research and teaching initiatives that are substantively rooted in the work of the community and build on community assets.

It is expected that 60 and 75 minute presentations will build in a significant amount of time for discussion and question / answer.

4. Poster Presentations. In addition to presentation sessions, we invite participants to propose poster exhibits for continuous display throughout the conference. Poster presenters agree to be on hand during one of the informal discussion periods scheduled throughout the conference.

To Propose a Workshop, Presentation, or Poster:
* Complete the cover page (Contact Michele James-Deramo, deramo@vt.edu, for the RFP file.)
* Write a one-page description of approximately 300 words of the proposed workshop or presentation. Please describe both the content of the session, as well as the format of delivery. Consider the following questions when writing your description: What is your inquiry or theory of change for this project? What community expertise does your partnership leverage? What community need is addressed? How do you demonstrate impact? How far are you in the process with this partnership?
* Include a brief biography of all session presenters that may be included in the conference program.
* Send five paper copies or an electronic copy of the proposal to:

Michele James-Deramo
Conference Planning Committee Chair
Virginia Tech Service-Learning Center
202 Major Williams (0168)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
E-mail: deramo@vt.edu

Timeline:
Proposals Due: March 6th, 2006
Selections Made By: April 6th, 2006
Presenters Notified By: April 15th, 2006

For questions, contact Michele James-Deramo at 540/231-6947.