The purpose of the CAS Engagement Award is to honor people or units involved in exemplary engagement activities that have an impact beyond the university (within a community, the state of Nebraska, the nation, or the world). According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, community engagement involves “the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.” Many people and groups within the college are involved in significant engagement activities and this award is intended to recognize engagement that goes above and beyond normally expected contributions.
Engagement Award Nomination Form
Eligibility
Any full-time faculty or staff member in the college or any college unit, department or program.
Awards
Two $1,000 awards will be given each year, one to an individual and the other to a group (department, program, or unit) within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Criteria
In keeping with the mission and goals of the College of Arts and Sciences, CAS Engagement Award recipients will have demonstrated a sustained record in collaborating with their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the purposes of exchanging knowledge and resources with the public and/or private sectors. These activities can involve:
- The development of educational programs that reach beyond the university.
- The facilitation of university-community partnerships.
- The involvement of students in service learning and civic engagement.
- Leadership in engagement scholarship and activities.
- Outreach to communities.
Nomination materials
To be considered for the CAS Engagement Award, nominees must submit:
- A completed nomination form signed by the relevant department/program chair or supervisor.
- A nomination letter from a Nebraska colleague addressing the nominee’s efforts at engagement and their impact on the broader community (maximum 2 pages).
- A statement from the nominee outlining the goals and successes of the engagement activities (maximum 2 pages).
- Evidence of impact, which could include letters of support from relevant community partners who can speak to the nominee’s impact, research showing impact, links to videos or websites, invitations, number of attendees or participants, feedback from participants or stakeholders, or other items.