University of Minnesota
Office for Public Engagement
The Office for Public Engagement works with the Provost, the Senior Vice President for System Administration and the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences to assure that public engagement is adequately emphasized in college and coordinate campus compacts. In working with the Council on Public Engagement (COPE) and the Student Committee on Public Engagement (SCOPE), the Office for Public Engagement facilitates and coordinates the public engagement activities of its member organizations and committees.
The Office for Public Engagement develops and uses effective mechanisms to communicate with internal and external constituencies, and develops contacts and partnerships with external organizations. It facilitates intellectual discourse on the meaning, implications and applications of public scholarship by organizing and sponsoring conferences, forums and workshops. Also, the Office for Public Engagement advocates and promotes public engagement skills among University community members, and encourages public engagement initiatives within and among colleges.
In its work with faculty governance committees, the Office for Public Engagement promotes engaged initiatives and strengthens a culture of engagement. The Office for Public Engagement supports engaged programs in its work with student governance, other student groups and the Office of Student Affairs.
The Office for Public Engagement supports service-learning and civic learning programs as University-wide initiatives, and participates in projects that assess public engagement activities. It administers Seed Grant and Outstanding Community Service Award programs, and represents the University of Minnesota at local, regional and national conferences and programs.
The Office for Public Engagement works with the UM Foundation and other organizations to raise funds to support engaged initiatives. It reports periodically to the Board of Regents on publicly engaged activities and accomplishments. The Office for Public Engagement maintains the University of Minnesota’s leadership role in public engagement in higher education.
The Council on Public Engagement brings together people working on public engagement activities, as well as representatives of faculty and student governance, colleges and central administration offices. The Council on Public Engagement serves as a “conscience for engagement” at the University of Minnesota by having public engagement recognized as a pervasive priority in teaching, learning and research activities throughout the university.
The Council on Public Engagement initiates, carries out and publicizes public engagement programs. It forms networks of public engagement participants and identifies potential new participants in public engagement activities. The Council on Public Engagement also shares information among active participants in public engagement enterprises and with other university stakeholders.
The Council on Public Engagement enlists support for public engagement among all segments of the university and in the larger community. Also, the Council on Public Engagement advises and assists the Associate Vice President for Public Engagement and the Office for Public Engagement.
The Office for Public Engagement’s affiliated offices and programs:
- America Reads program
- Business and Community Economic Development
- Career and Community Learning Center
- Center for Democracy
- Center for Transportation Studies
- Center for Urban and Regional Affairs
- Children, Youth and Family Consortium
- College of Continuing Education
- Council on Public Engagement
- Institute on Community Integration
- Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change
- Jane Addams School
- Metropolitan Studies Consortium
- Minnesota Works together
- PreK-12 initiatives
- Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
- Research and Outreach
- Student Committee on Public Engagement
- Undergraduate Student Engagement Initiative
- University of Minnesota Duluth Office of Civic Engagement
- University of Minnesota Extension Service
- University Northside Partnership
