William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion

In recognition of exemplary commitment to the community!
 
Overview

In alignment with IUPUI’s mission, the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion has been established to recognize graduating students who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to their communities during their years as an IUPUI student. The medallion is named in honor of IUPUI’s former Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties from 1988 to 2006, Dr. William Plater, a strong advocate of civic engagement during his career.

Students who are awarded the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion will have exhibited personal development, intellectual growth, and positive community impact as a result of their civic engagement experiences. Recipients are expected to have engaged in a variety of activities demonstrating depth and diversity of commitment in serving their communities, while making a significant investment to at least one community experience over time.

Graduating Masters Students now eligible!

Every April, IUPUI recognizes graduating Bachelors-level students who have maintained a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and are committed to and shaped by their community experiences, such as service learning research, volunteering, and community-related course work.

Beginning in 2013, the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion application process will include graduate students who will receive their Masters degrees by August 2013.

Click HERE to see 2013 Plater Civic Engagement Medallion recipients

2013 Nominations and Applications have closed
Application Requirements and Materials

Applicants for the Plater Civic Engagement Medallion are undergraduate (Bachelor's level) or graduate (Master's level) students who will receive their respective degrees by August 2013. Students completing their degree requirements in December of 2012 are also eligible to apply. Applicants should submit their materials online no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, March 1, 2013. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All faculty/staff and community partner recommendations must be completed by Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

Click HERE to review the application form in .PDF before applying!

The Application consists of the following parts:

• Applicant's General Information: major, date of graduation, etc.

• Overall Grade Point Average:
  A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required, with a preferred GPA of 3.0 and above. Applicant GPA’s will be verified via IUPUI student records.

• Recommendation from an IUPUI faculty/staff member:
  One recommendation is required from a faculty or staff member who is familiar with the applicant’s community-based/civic engagement experience(s).  This recommendation should address the applicant's civic learning and development  that occurred as a result of the community-based/civic engagement experience(s). Upon submission of a completed application, faculty/staff references will be contacted by the IUPUI Center for Service and Learning via email to submit a recommendation on behalf of the applicant. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all contact information is correct and to follow-up with references to ensure that the recommendation form has been submitted by the deadline of March 6. 
  

• Recommendation from a Community Member/Partner:
  One recommendation is required from a community member/partner who is familiar with the applicant’s community-based/civic engagement experience(s).  This recommendation should detail the community impact that an applicant has contibuted as result of the community-based/civic engagement experience(s).  Upon submission of a completed application, community member references will be contacted by the IUPUI Center for Service and Learning via email to submit a letter of support on behalf of the applicant.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all contact information is correct and to follow-up with references to ensure that the letter of support has been submitted by the deadline of March 6.

• Personal essay:   Applicants must upload an essay of no more than 750 words that addresses the following statement: "I have a responsibility and a commitment to use the knowledge and skills I have gained as an undergraduate  or graduate college student to collaborate with others, who may be different from me, to help address issues in society.”  Applicants are asked to explain the ways in which they agree or disagree with this statement and provide personal examples, utilizing the dimensions of a Civic-Minded Graduate. 

• Documentation of civic engagement experiences: Applicants should complete the Civic Engagement documentation portion by detailing NO MORE THAN THREE (3) meaningful civic engagement experiences that have occurred during their academic years at IUPUI. Each experience should only be documented one time.

What is Civic Engagement?

Civic engagement is defined as active collaboration that builds on the resources, skills, expertise, and knowledge of the campus and community to improve the quality of life in communities in a manner consistent with the campus mission. Examples of civic engagement experiences could include volunteer service at a non-profit agency, participation in a service learning course, contribution of voluntary work on a political campaign, advocacy on specific social issues, involvement with a faculty member on a community-based research project, or employment in a community work-study position.

Dr. William M. Plater

As the chief academic officer for IUPUI, William M. Plater led campus efforts to improve undergraduate retention, enhance the effective use of technology, develop IUPUI as a model for civic engagement, and increase research productivity as a part of the campus vision to become a leading urban research university. Administrators and faculty from across the country come regularly to IUPUI to learn about its innovative programs in undergraduate education, programs that Dr. Plater was instrumental in designing and developing. Plater is active in his community, serving currently or formerly on the boards of The Children’s Museum, the Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Indiana Humanities Council, the Indiana University Press, the Indiana Partnership for Higher Education, the Indianapolis Economic Development Advisory Board, MUCIA, WFYI, and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. He holds baccalaureate (1967), Master’s and Ph.D. (1973) degrees in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In July 2006, Dr. Plater became the director of the Workshop on International Community Development, a joint program of the IU Center on Philanthropy and the Center on Urban Policy and the Environment of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Awarding of the Medallion

Every year, recipients are honored with their medallions at the Showcase for Civic Engagement. The Showcase of Civic Engagement highlights the work of IUPUI faculty, students, and community partners in research, teaching, and service activities that have a positive impact on Indianapolis communities and beyond.

This year's Civic Engagement Showcase and Symposium will take place on April 23, 2013. Students are also encouraged to wear their Plater Medallions at the commencement ceremonies.

See our past Plater Civic Engagement Medallion Recipients!