Resources for Faculty
Interested in Community-Engaged Teaching?
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.
2025 Lifetime ACE Bill Lyons mingles with Lifetime ACEs Dr. Carolyn Behrman (2023) and Dr. Becky Erickson (2026), as well as 2026 Distinguished ACE Dr. Sydney Chinchanachokchai.
Faculty-Focused Programs
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.