Kansas State University

Nominations open for K-State Excellence in Engagement awards

Submitted by Chandra Ruthstrom

The office of the provost and the Center for Engagement and Community Development are offerings the K-State Excellence in Engagement awards. These awards are given to recognize excellence in engaged scholarship – via research, teaching and/or outreach. These awards recognize K-State Research and Extension and campus faculty initiatives that demonstrate innovative and/or sustained efforts in university/community engaged scholarship positively impacting both the university and community partners. 

By engagement, we mean:

“The partnership of university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values, and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.”

                                     Association of Public and Land Grant Universities

                                                        White Paper on Engagement, 2011

Application Opens:  Dec. 1

Submission Materials Due:  Jan. 15

Approximate Announcement Date:  Feb. 1

Number of Awards:  Two

Eligibility:  Any campus faculty, professional staff, and/or Extension professional. Awards may go to an individual or a partnership team.

Criteria for the K-State Excellence in Engagement Award:

1. The engaged scholarship benefits the lives of individuals, families, communities and/or society as well as university faculty and students; 
2. The engaged scholarship is created and sustained through mutual collaboration between university faculty and external communities;
3. The scholarship is communicated through scholarly publication, academic presentation, public scholarship,and/or community presentation; and
4. The engaged scholarship creates or applies disciplinary knowledge.

Application Portfolio (three pages maximum):

Abstract:

Summarize the engaged scholarship – via research, teaching, or outreach – and engaged partnership. Describe the significant societal issue addressed and benefits resulting from that partnership.

The Partnership:

Detail the campus and community partners. Describe the length of this partnership. Offer examples of how campus and community partners have worked together and roles each have played. Describe ways in which students have been involved.

Lessons Learned and Best Practices:

Describe the challenges the university and community partners have faced through this collaboration. Describe how these challenges were addressed and overcome. What benefits have emerged from this partnership for the university and the community? What knowledge or intellectual property has been created from this engaged work?

Endorsement:

Two letters of endorsement are required. Each application must include a letter of endorsement from a dean, department head, or director who is familiar with and supportive of the engaged project. A second letter must come from a community partner.

Submit Nomination Application Online to:

cecd@k-state.edu

In subject line, note this is for “K-State Excellence in Engagement Award.”

Recognition:

A plaque and $2,500 presented to each winning engagement partnership. Awards will be presented at the university’s spring award celebration.

1. The two winning engaged partnerships will be supported by President Kirk Schulz as Kansas State University’s applications for the regional Outreach Scholarship W.K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award. Engaged partnership winners at this regional competition will then have the opportunity to compete for the national C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award which is awarded at the national Association of Public and Land Grant Universities conference.
2. Winners of the K-State Excellence in Engagement Award will be showcased in university news stories throughout the year and will be highlighted as one of K-State’s Signature Partnerships.

Review Process:

A review panel made up of engaged campus and community representatives will review the application portfolios based on the criteria listed above.

If you have questions, please call 785-532-6868.  

Please visit www.k-state.edu/cecd for information.