Community-Engaged Learning Award

The Community-Engaged Learning Award assists faculty by providing a $500 stipend annually to two faculty members for use in their community-engaged learning (service-learning) courses. Community-engaged learning is a teaching approach that intentionally connects course content with real-world community experiences. It involves students working with community partners—such as nonprofits, local organizations, or public institutions—to apply what they are learning in meaningful, reciprocal ways.

This grant is intended to offset a portion of the costs for working with communities, nonprofit clients, schools and governmental bodies in the classroom. Only projects that encourage students to engage with the community while also applying or expanding their education and expertise will be considered. 

Applicants must be members of MCSD and be teaching a community-engaged learning course in the upcoming academic year. Winners of the Community-Engaged Learning Award will be chosen by the MCS Division’s Vice Head and Teaching Committee. 

Submission Details:

Application materials should be sent as ONE PDF (no more than 10 pages) with the applicant’s name in the PDF title. Include the following information in your submission packet in the order listed below:

• A letter of application that includes the following:
  • A narrative about your past experience with community-engaged learning
  • An overview of the community-engaged learning project
  • How the award funding would help your community-engaged learning course
  • The course’s learning objectives
  • The intended outcomes for the community-engaged learning client(s)
  • How community-engaged learning is implemented in the class
  • Basic information pertaining to the proposed community-engaged learning project/client
• Letter of recommendation from your department head or dean
• Current curriculum vitae (no more than five pages)

Submission Deadline: April 30th at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). The nomination PDF should be emailed to the MCSD Awards Chair. 

Award: $500

The award winners will be recognized at the MCSD Awards Luncheon at the national conference with a plaque. Winners will also be listed on the Division’s website.