Reflecting campus priorities to support equitable access to engaged learning for all students, the Institute for Engaged Learning (IEL) will focus 2024-2025 academic year funding support on increasing, improving, and sustaining service learning and civic engagement (SLCE) initiatives that are implemented within the curriculum. Given this priority, we seek new and veteran faculty dedicated to implementing SLCE in new ways or deepening/transforming their SLCE in credit-bearing experiences. For applications that meet these criteria, the IEL will offer support through additional funding streams, communities of practice, and online resources in addition to providing faculty with student employyes to support their work through the Community Engagement Associate (CEA) program.
Service Learning and Civic Engagement (SLCE) Courses and Curriculum Initiative
Application categories and criteria
New SLCE faculty: New to the IUPUI/IUI campus in the last two years, or new to implementing SLCE for the first time in a particular course or academic program on the IUI campus.
Faculty applying for funding in the New SCLE faculty category will receive a $1,200 stipend and be required to participate in professional development workshops and/or a Community of Practice (CoP) (approximately 8-10 meetings) that support development of SLCE course/curriculum, and will receive funding to hire a student CEA to support SLCE course implementation [1 student at $14/hour x 10 hours a week x 16-week semester for either one or two semesters (fall/spring)]
Total award $3,240 or $5,480
Veteran SLCE faculty: Has overseen/taught SLCE courses for at least 2 years and desires to implement SLCE in a new course or program, OR to deepen/transform/improve civic engagement experiences in courses or curriculum that have previously been developed.
Faculty applying for CEA funding in the Veteran SCLE faculty category will receive a $1,200 stipend and be required to participate in professional development workshops and/or a Community of Practice (CoP) (approximately 8-10 meetings) that supports strengthening existing courses/curriculum and will receive funding to hire a student CEA to support course implementation [1 student at $14/hour x 10 hours a week x 16-week semester for either one or two semesters (fall/spring)]
Total award $3,240 or $5,480
SLCE faculty team (up to 3 people): Intra- or interdepartmental teams of faculty will engage in collective conversations to transform a set of courses or an academic program curriculum to integrate SLCE best practices.
Faculty teams applying for SLCE funding in the SCLE faculty team category will receive $750 each in stipend support to participate in ongoing workshops and/or a Community of Practice (CoP) (approximately 8-10 meetings) to strengthen existing courses/curriculum and will receive funding to hire up to two CEAs to support course/curriculum implementation [1 student at $14/hour x 10 hours a week x 16-week semester for either one or two semesters (fall/spring)]
Total award up to $11,210 depending on number of faculty, number of CEAs, and number of semesters
Applicant/SLCE Faculty Requirements:
To successfully meet the expectations of the program and remain eligible for future funding, faculty awardees will be required to:
- Attend required faculty development workshops/CoP meetings with the IEL in the 2024-25 academic year demonstrating growth and progress of SLCE course/curriculum development
- Complete regular progress reports as requested by the IEL (December, May), to ensure future funding transfers (transfer of funds will occur monthly)
- Attend an orientation session hosted by the IEL for new faculty, or a program refresh for veteran faculty, before hiring student CEAs
- Engage as a supportive, developmental supervisor of student CEA, with timely approval of timesheets, prompt responses to communication from the IEL, and proactive conversations about any issues that occur
- Lead a mid-year developmental conversation with student CEA before the end of the funding cycle
- Offer support and mentorship for CEA’s demonstration of learning project (ePortfolio for showcase or artifact presentation at end-of-year Engaged Learning event)
Processes and deadlines:
- Faculty applies for SLCE program funding - Deadline March 22, 2024
- Applicants notified from IEL of funding support - April 15, 2024
- Funded applicants complete Letter of Acceptance - Deadline April 30, 2024
- Funds transferred from IEL to awardee’s fiscal account at of each month for each funded semester
- Awardees enrolled in appropriate CoP professional development programs with CSL/IEL (May 15, 2024)
- Awardees hire student CEA, and communicate CEA contact information to the IEL (dependent on individual projects)
Expectations of students in the CEA program
To successfully complete their CEA employment experience, students will:
- Attend an IEL orientation/networking session in the hiring semester to meet other CEA’s and learn more about SLCE on campus
- Attend at least one IEL in-person professional development workshop per semester employed in the program. A schedule with workshops offered by the IEL will be provided before the fall and spring semesters (Faculty mentors will be required to allow CEAs to attend activities and complete required IEL during their paid work time)
- Demonstrate the learning aligned with their CEA work at an approved event by the end of the 2025 academic year (Details to follow but may include an ePortfolio presented in the Engaged Learning Showcase and/or a presentation of learning at an in-person Engaged Learning public event)
- Complete a mid-term performance evaluation conversation with their faculty mentor
- Complete an IEL year-end reflection and survey before ending their CEA position
Additional support available to SLCE faculty awardees:
- Access to fast-track funding from the Jag Action Grant program to support further student involvement of community/civic engagement initiatives
- Priority access to future funding opportunities, including summer funding or additional CEA positions
- Support for professional development to strengthen skills and expansion of future SLCE work