Leadership Award for Campus and Community Engagement
Campus Compact has created the Leadership Award for Campus and Community Engagement to highlight the critical and valuable role of the community engagement professional in higher education. These dedicated individuals form a vital link between the community and campus, they are central to realizing the vision of the engaged campus, and integral in the education and development of students. The tremendous growth of the field is due in large part to the dedication and hard work of the community engagement professional. This award is for staff members on Campus Compact member campuses; please see our other awards for faculty and students.
Call for Nominations
This award honors an individual whose work embodies the vision and value of the engaged campus. The objective of this award is to recognize the work of a community engagement professional who advances her/his campus's civic vision and the field by creating and/or coordinating high-quality campus and community engagement initiatives, contributing significantly to the development and sustainability of strong, reciprocal partnerships between higher education and communities, and fostering a deep culture of engagement on their campus.
Campus Compact is pleased to announce that the 2008 application process for this inaugural award will begin August 1, 2008. The deadline for submission of applications is October 17, 2008.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, an individual must be a full- or part-time staff member at a Campus Compact member campus in the 2007-2008 academic year. Any individual whose work meets the selection criteria may be considered regardless of position, level, or title. An applicant's impact will be weighted more heavily over her/his years of service.
Selection Criteria
Campus Compact recognizes that developing and implementing high-quality partnerships and rigorous student and institutional engagement initiatives requires creativity, leadership, commitment, and integrity. We seek to honor an individual who demonstrates these qualities.
Applicants must be employees of a Campus Compact member campus for the 2007-2008 academic year. (Visit the membership pages to check on institutional membership status.) These candidates should possess the following:
- Experience in creating and/or coordinating high-quality campus-community partnership programs. These may include community service, service-learning, community-based research, community service work-study, deliberative dialogues, and other opportunities for students and others to address important public issues. How did the engagement initiatives benefit students and the community? How did the applicant's work lead to these positive outcomes? How did the applicant respond to challenges?
- Significant contributions to the development and sustainability of strong, reciprocal partnerships. How has the applicant cultivated new or enduring relationships with community leaders? How have partnerships demonstrated shared vision, power, and leadership?
- Integral contributions to the development of student civic leadership. How has the applicant created and/or leveraged opportunities for student service and engagement? How has the applicant fostered student civic leadership?
- Ability to foster a deep culture of engagement and sense of the campus's civic vision. How has the applicant cultivated other leaders and advocates on campus? How has her/his work transformed the institution overall?
- Building the community engagement field. How has the applicant contributed to ongoing learning and growth in this field?
Nomination Submission Requirements
To be considered for the award, the application must include all the required elements below. A compelling submission will address all of the selection criteria described above. All applications must be complete and submitted online by October 17, 2008.
Required Materials
A reflective essay from the applicant (not to exceed 5 pages, double-spaced) describing the transformative impact of service, civic engagement and/or campus-community partnerships on their students, the community, their institution, and themselves; outlining innovative programming s/he has created that has greatly affected the students, campus, and the community and with specific outcomes; and providing evidence of personal commitment to advancing civic engagement on campus, in the community, and within the field.
A letter of support from a campus colleague (i.e. the president, a faculty member, or a staff member), addressing as many of the selection criteria as possible.
A letter of support from a community partner, addressing as many of the selection criteria as possible (not to exceed 2 pages).
The applicant's resume or curriculum vitae (not to exceed 5 pages).
Optional Materials
A reflective statement from a current or former student, addressing the applicant's work and impact on her/him (not to exceed 2 pages). Up to 5 pages of documentation supporting award criteria. Documentation may include articles (newspaper, magazine, or journal), evaluation results, letters of appreciation, etc.
The award recipient will be notified in December 2008. In recognition of her/his achievement and contribution to the field, the recipient will receive an award plaque and a $2,000 award.
For questions regarding the award, please contact Pamela Mutascio at awards2008@compact.org or call 401-867-3949.
Being a part of Campus Compact has let us touch the heart and soul of building better communities while improving teaching and learning for faculty and students. James A. Drake, President, Brevard Community College