Since 2015, the Academically Based Community Engagement ad hoc committee (ABCE) has organized an “Idea Exchange” co-sponsored by the Honors College, Community and Governmental Relations, The Elsie Hillman Civic Forum,  PittServes, School of Education, School of Social Work, and Study Abroad. Now re-imagined as the Community Engaged Scholarship Forum, this day long learning opportunity will bring together faculty, staff, and student leaders for culture building discussions that support the Plan for Pitt’s strategic priorities of “Build Community Strength” and “Extend our Global Reach.”

We will focus on specific programs, partnerships, and learning opportunities in order to build awareness of current University investments as well as envision an expanded academic and co-curricular engagement ecosystem at the University of Pittsburgh. The new format of our day will allow for the eventual development of professional learning communities and ongoing networking opportunities for faculty and staff interested in community-based learning and research or outreach and engagement programming.

Proposals for session discussion and poster presentation can be submitted: 
https://www.elsiehillmanforum.pitt.edu/events/2019-community-engaged-scholarship-forum

Key organizing questions for the Forum:

• What does asset-based engagement look like?
• What opportunities for community engaged learning are currently available at the University and where do they take place?
• Where can faculty or researchers find and share best practices and assessment methods for community based or experiential learning?
• How can students integrate a passion for civic engagement and service into their studies?
• How do staff implementing programs with an outreach or community placement component ensure high quality partnerships?
• How do global opportunities for engagement further teaching and learning goals here on campus?
• How does Pitt's local engagement reflect global issues and how does our global engagement reflect local issues?

This year, the first annual Senior Vice Chancellor for Engagement’s Partnerships of Distinction Award will be presented. This award will recognize outstanding partnerships that are exemplars of community engagement at Pitt. Up to five awardees may be chosen and each award consists of a $2,000 grant to support partnership activities. This year, 15 of the partnerships that are nominated for the award will be listed as exemplar partnerships in the University’s application for the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. Additional details and the nomination form can be found here.