Resources for Faculty
Interested in Community-Engaged Teaching?
The EX[L] Center at UA offers small grants (up to $1,000) to support [Un]classes and courses that incorporate community-engaged research and/or learning. Committed to public impact? Explore our Akron Community Engaged Scholars [ACES] initiative!
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Faculty Resources for Community Engagement
Community-engaged Learning (CEL) is a high-impact teaching practice that connects academic coursework with real-world experiences through partnerships with local organizations. Whether through service-learning, community-engaged research, or project-based collaboration, CEL helps students apply their learning while making meaningful contributions beyond the classroom. At the EX[L] Center, we support faculty in designing, implementing, and sustaining community-engaged courses. From grant funding and course design consultations to partnership development and assessment tools, we’re here to help you integrate community engagement into your teaching in impactful and sustainable ways.
Faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to public impact through community-connected teaching, scholarship, or service may also be recognized as Akron Community Engaged Scholars (ACES)—a formal affiliation with the EX[L] Center that highlights and supports engaged academic work.
Faculty Support
Each year the Office of Community Impact supports one Faculty Research Grant in the amount of $10,000 that draws upon community-engaged research methods to make a public impact. Grants are selected by members of the Senate’s Faculty Research Committee and applications are solicited through the FRC application process.
Applications are due early spring.
UA Faculty Research Committee 2024-25 Faculty Fellowship Guidelines
The title of Akron Community Engaged Scholar is a way to formally affiliate with the EX[L] Center for Community Engaged Learning for those full- or part-time faculty who demonstrate a commitment to public impact by connecting campus and community through their teaching, scholarship, and/or significant service.
Learn more about UA’s Akron Community Engaged Scholars [ACES]
The EX[L] Center at UA is proud to offer small grants (up to $1,000 each) to support UA courses that integrate community engagement through community-based research and/or service-learning.
To qualify for funding, courses must involve all enrolled students in meaningful engagement with local or regional community partners in Akron and Northeast Ohio.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis each semester until funds are depleted. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing and evaluation.
Interested? Review our grant guidelines and application here.