University of Louisville
2323 S. Brook St.
Louisville, KY 40208
Bridging The Public Divide Through University-Community Partnerships
PROPOSAL DEADLINE - JANUARY 22. 2025
Sponsored by the Office of Community Engagement
Call for Proposals
The theme for the 2025 Engaged Scholarship Symposium is Bridging the Public Divide through University-Community Partnerships. There is a divide between the university and the public. Universities are seen as distant, irrelevant, and generally not a part of the community. We need to demonstrate the connection between higher education and the public at large through, engaged-research, engaged-teaching, and outreach activities.
The 2025 Engaged Scholarship Symposium seek to explore the various ways higher education is bridging the divide with the public through the many collaborative projects occurring with faculty, staff, students, and the general public. Proposals should include teaching, research, creative activity or outreach projects that are helping to bridge the divide between the university and community. Proposals should include students and community partners as co-presenters where possible. Faculty, staff, students, and community partners are invited to submit proposals.
Proposals should address one of the following areas listed below and the related questions/statements. Some of the topics in which we are interested include:
- Digital Divide – technology is a part of our lives but many communities still lack access. Proposals should address how your project is addressing the digital divide with marginalize groups or how technology is helping to address issues affecting our community.
- Education – Proposals should address how projects are addressing educational attainment in schools, through after-school programs, or providing educational support in other areas. Programs can be with children or adults and can address a wide cross section of issues. Those addressing the digital divide are strongly encouraged.
- Health Disparity – Address issues of health with community members. How are these projects addressing health disparities and leading to healthier individuals and communities. How is technology helping to address health concerns in the community? Health is broadly defined and may include physical, emotional, mental, financial, or other aspects of health, including a healthy environment.
- Economic Development – In what ways are you addressing the economic well-being of individuals? This may include workforce development, financial literacy, small business development and or support.
- Social and Human Services – In what ways are you addressing the many social issues being experienced by our communities? How are we collaborating with community entities to provide wrap-around services to community organizations?
- Sustainability, Justice, Environment, and community engagement – In what kinds of sustainability, justice, and/or environmental initiatives are university and community partners collaborating? How are we helping to promote sustainability in the community? How are UofL staff, faculty, and students engaged in work to promote environmental justice or support local sustainability initiatives?
- Others – What areas of community engagement is of interest to you? In what area/s are you involved? This could include community engagement as a pedagogy for teaching and learning, sustaining and developing partnerships, ethical issues in community engagement, and promotion and tenure issues as examples of areas for proposals.
Proposals and presentations should address the questions/statements for each topic area above. Presentations should also provide participants with “nuts and bolts” on community-engaged activities through teaching, research, and outreach. Presentations addressing engaged-teaching should include examples of students engaging with the community in engaged learning opportunities. Presentations addressing engaged-research should include research conducted in collaboration with community partners to study an issue that affects the community. Presentations on outreach activities should include connections to teaching/learning and/or research. Strong proposals will include examples of impact and where possible the inclusion of students and community partners as co-presenters.
Proposals should adhere to one of the following three presentation formats.
- Lightning Talk – A Lightening talk is a 6 minute presentation that provides a brief overview of your project, noting specifics. It is not intended to provide details but merely to highlight a few key points to spark the interest of attendees, who may seek out the presenter to learn more. This format is best suited for one presenter. Presentations of similar themes/topics will be placed together.
- Panel Presentations – Panel presentations are 15 minute presentations with other panelists. Presenters should provide details about their work, noting specific areas that would be beneficial to attendees.
- Round Table Presentations – Round table presentations are designed to be highly interactive sessions for small groups of 6 to 8 individuals where the topic is discussed in detail, with contribution coming from participants. The presenter(s) should give a short presentation on the topic such as the results of a research study or description of the community-based teaching/learning activity, clinical, or other program then open up the conversation for a rich discussion. The presenter(s) should then facilitate an engaging conversation with participants to answer questions, share ideas, and discuss best practices or innovative approaches.