Endless Possibilities for Community Engagement
The I-Engage program takes new faculty from different academic units at the university on a day-long traveling seminar to learn about Champaign-Urbana. I-Engage is for faculty members who are new to our campus with a goal of facilitating opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of the infrastructures and drivers of the local economy including agriculture, government, education, healthcare, social services, the arts, and more.
With a better understanding of the aspirations and needs of the community, new faculty members can engage with local partners through research, creative activities, teaching, service, and public engagement. Through this shared experience of learning and discovery, I-Engage aims to promote meaningful dialogue between the university and community stakeholders across the many disciplines represented by faculty members.
What previous participants found valuable about I-Engage:
- Talking with other faculty members about their work and potential connections.
- The entire framework of being exposed to different features of the C-U community.
- …the endless possibilities and opportunities that exist for community collaboration. It also was particularly great to hear about how community partners would like faculty to engage and work with them.
Nomination Process
A call for nominees will go out in October/November. Each academic college and school can nominate two early-career faculty members to participate in the program. The program is open to faculty members who are between years two and four at the rank of assistant professor and who are interested in learning about how their scholarship could connect with the local community.
Timeline
- Colleges nominate faculty: November
- Invitations are sent to nominees in January; confirm participation late February
- Schedules and more information sent: March
- I-Engage: April
For more information about I-Engage, contact Provost Events.