4th Annual Summer Research Institute on the Future of Community Engagement in Higher Education

Posted by on April 08, 2013

July 17-18, 2013

The Center for Engaged Democracy is pleased to announce its 4th annual summer research institute on The Future of Community Engagement in Higher Education. The summer institute brings together scholars, students, and community participants to engage the theory and practice of what it means to have an “academic home” for community engagement in higher education. It will take place July 17 & 18, 2013, at Tufts University in conjunction with the “Frontiers of Democracy” conference.

·        REGISTRATION:  http://merrimack-education.informz.net/Merrimack-education/event.asp?eid=4236 (Registration is $70.)

·        CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS: https://merrimack.wufoo.com/forms/2013-summer-institute-call-for-presentations/

Submissions should include an abstract of 500 words or less.

·        CRITICAL FRIENDS GROUPS: https://merrimack.wufoo.com/forms/critical-friends-sessions/ Submissions should include a 1-2 sentence description of the informal session you would like to lead.

·        AGENDA: http://www.merrimack.edu/live/files/404-agendathe-future-of-community-engagement

DETAILS

This year’s institute will have three presentations tracks:

1.      Strengthening Academic Programs in Community Engagement: presentations on developing, supporting, and expanding academic programs focused on civic and community engagement.

2.      Core Competencies in Civic Engagement: presentations that make use of, critically engage with, and expand upon the Center’s policy report Core Competencies in Civic Engagement.

3.      The Impact of Online Education for Community Engagement: presentations that examine the impact and implications of online education in higher education for the future of “place-based” learning and civic and community engagement.

Additionally, this year’s institute will have several invited sessions focusing on key literature and issues in the field. Confirmed invited sessions include:

·        Marshall Welch, Saint Mary’s College of California and John Saltmarsh, New England Resource Center for Higher Education, Invited Session: Best Practice and Infrastructures for Campus Centers of Community Engagement

·        Ari Hoy, Senior Program Officer, Bonner Foundation, Invited Session: Forthcoming edited book, Deepening Community Engagement in Higher Education: Forging New Pathways.

·        Ashley Finley, Senior Director of Assessment & Research, AAC&U, Invited Session: Forthcoming monograph through Bringing Theory to Practice’s Civic Monograph Series: Civic Learning & Teaching

·        Amy Traver and Zivah Katz, Queensborough Community College-CUNY, Invited Session: Forthcoming edited book, Service-Learning at the American Community College: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives.

·        Susan Iverson, Kent State University, Invited Session: Anticipated edited book, Feminist Community Engagement [working title]

Finally, a key theme will be the role of civic and community engagement in an increasingly online world. Paul LeBlanc, President of Southern New Hampshire University, will give the opening keynote talk: “College for America – The Future of Civic Engagement in an Online World.” Read his recent op-ed – “Accreditation in a Rapidly Changing World” – in InsideHigherEd. Read also Dan W. Butin’s recent op-ed – “Does Community Engagement Have a Place in a Placeless University” – in the New England Journal of Higher Education.

Questions: inquiries and questions should be directed to democracy@merrimack.edu.

About the 2013 Summer Research Institute

The 4th annual summer research institute on The Future of Community Engagement in Higher Education brings together scholars, students, and community participants to engage the theory and practice of what it means to have an “academic home” for community engagement in higher education. It will take place July 17 & 18, 2013, at Tufts University in conjunction with the “Frontiers of Democracy” conference. We encourage all attendees to take advantage of the affiliate conferences to be held July 18-20, which are sponsored by the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, the Democracy Imperative, and the Deliberative Democracy Consortium.

About the Center for Engaged Democracy

The Center for Engaged Democracy acts as a central hub for developing, coordinating, and supporting academic programs – certificates, minors, and majors – around the country focused on civic and community engagement, broadly defined. The Center, which is housed within Merrimack College’s School of Education, brings together faculty, administrators, and community partners to support such academic programs through a variety of initiatives and practices: compiling existing research and documentation to support new and developing programs; sponsoring symposia, conferences, and research opportunities to build a vibrant research base and academic community; and providing a voice and space for dialogue for the value of such academic programs across higher education.