REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
2012 Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Conference
Community-Based Learning:
Paving the Way for Change
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
On Saturday, March 31, 2012, Coppin State University will partner with the Baltimore Collegetown Network, Maryland Campus Compact, and the Shriver Center at UMBC to present a day-long conference, Community-Based Learning: Paving the Way for Change. This is the fifth annual Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Conference and will be attended by approximately 300 students and faculty from Maryland colleges and universities. Additional conference information is available at the conference home page
CONFERENCE AIMS
Explore successful service-learning, community service and civic engagement best practices, benefiting both students, faculty and community stakeholders.
Strengthen the capacity of Maryland campuses to create effective, sustainable community partnerships.
Collaborate, network and share ideas with students, faculty, staff and community partners throughout Maryland.
Deepen awareness around transformational learning and social change.
PROPOSAL CONTENT
We are looking for dynamic workshops that highlight one of the following areas:
Community Partnerships: What are the best practices in community-campus partnerships, and what are we learning? Examples in this area include the process of initiating and sustaining community-campus partnerships, setting short and long-term goals, and innovative initiatives with community organizations. Presentations should include partner voice.
Issues in Our Community: What social issues are important in our surrounding communities? What are the root causes of the social problems we see? For example, your workshop might explore homelessness, environmental issues, or health disparities. Presentations may also explore different strategies developed, on campus or in the community, to address current issues. How do we develop relationships with community partners to address isues identified by the community?
Social Justice Leadership on Campus: How do our campus communities encourage active citizenship and working for social change? Examples include campus advocacy efforts, awareness campaigns, innovative ways to disuss diversity topics such as race, oppression, privilege, and social identity, etc.
Academic Service-Learning: How does your course integrate the community into the classroom? Examples include service-learning course design and best practices, faculty development, reflective practic, institutionalization of service-learning in areas such as promotion and tenure, community-based research initiatives, living-learning communities, service-learning course assessment and impact.
Student-led Community Service Initiatives: How do your comunity service initiatives partner with the community? How do you create and develop strong community service initiatives on your campus? Examples include: alternative breaks, service initiatives in student clubs and organizations, student leadership, recruiting and training volunteers, retention of members, marketing and advertising, and building campus support.
Career Building for Students and Practitioners: How does community-based learning translate into potential career paths? How can others get involved with service, service-learning, civic engagement and the non-profit sector as a career? What experiences are useful to be successful practitioner in this field?
Measurement and Assessment of Community-Based Learning: How do you measure the impact of your work in the community? What tools do you use? How do the outcomes inform future planning?
The conference will consist of two 75-minute sessions during which a variety of workshops will be held. Presenters will be allotted up to 75 minutes in which to present their topic and answer questions.Because there are only two concurrent workshop sessions, conference organizers will combine similar proposals into panel presentations.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Applicability to the conference themes: The workshop content offers a significant contribution to the purpose of the conference and can clearly fit into a specific theme.
Defined outcomes: The workshop has a clear purpose and objectives.
Interactive nature of the proposed workshop: The workshop format is dynamic and engages the audience through participation and discussion.
Quality of content: The workshop provides the audience with concrete ideas, models or research that can be applied on their campus and/or community.
Collaboration: The workshop is collaborative and involves multiple perspectives. We encourage proposals by community partners, in addition to those by students, faculty and staff at area colleges and universities.
PROPOSAL QUESTIONS
Before submitting your proposal, please click the link below to review the list of questions you will be asked to answer to ensure your submission is complete.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION TIMELINE
Proposals must be submitted no later than Friday, January 20, 2012 at 5pm for consideration. Please follow the link below to submit your workshop proposal. Proposals will be evaluated and you will be notified of your status by Monday, February 6, 2012. Presenters must confirm their acceptance by Friday, February 10, 2012.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Proposal submission questions may be directed to:
Corinne DeRoberts
Coordinator of Community Service
Towson University
cderoberts@towson.edu
410.704.5764
