LibGuides: Community Engagement: Community Engagement at EIU

Definition and Purpose

Community Engagement in Higher Education

Community engagement involves collaborative partnerships between higher education institutions and communities at all levels (local to global). These partnerships foster mutual exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise, benefiting both parties through reciprocity. This work enriches scholarship, enhances teaching, promotes civic responsibility, and addresses societal challenges.

Methods of Engagement

Types and Methods of Engagement at EIU

Partnership Forms

Academic Collaborations: Research partnerships addressing societal issues
Service-Learning: Integrating community service with academic curriculum
Public Scholarship: Disseminating knowledge through community partnerships
Civic Engagement: Nurturing social responsibility through volunteerism and advocacy

Implementation Approaches

Collaborative Research: Community organizations as active research partners
Participatory Research: Community members involved in all research stages
Experiential Learning: Internships, fellowships, and volunteer programs
Public Dialogue: Forums bridging academia and community for democratic participation

Office of Leadership and Engagement
Eastern Illinois University's Office of Leadership and Engagement is committed to ensure that all of our students understand they have the power and ability to change our world and our community for the better through volunteering.
more...less...
By being an engaged citizen and volunteering, our students are gaining leadership skills, offered a hands on opportunity to put into practice what they are learning in the classroom, are exposed to new populations, and are challenged to live their life and view the world around them with a sense of responsibility to act, and to do so with compassion. Our programs support Eastern’s mission of enhancing the learning, educational growth, and development of the whole student.
Panther Service Day
Learn more about our annual day of volunteering a tradition dating back more than twenty years!

Curriculum Integration

Institutional Integration and Curriculum

Academic Implementation

Community-Engaged Courses: Integrating community-based projects into curricula
Interdisciplinary Approaches: Cross-departmental collaboration on complex issues
Capstone Projects: Student application of learning with community partners

The Political Science Department student capstone experience
View research posters from Political Science students.

Partnerships

Building Effective Partnerships

Foundational Elements

Relationship Development: Building trust through clear communication and shared goals
Reciprocity: Ensuring mutual benefit through ongoing dialogue
Sustainability: Maintaining partnerships through adaptability to evolving needs
Equity and Inclusion: Ensuring diverse representation through intentional outreach

Supporting Structures

Resources: Research databases, case studies, and funding opportunities
Assessment Tools: Surveys and feedback mechanisms measuring institutional and community impact
Technology: Platforms facilitating communication and project management

History and Theory

Historical Evolution and Theoretical Framework

Originally centered on service learning, community engagement has evolved into an essential component of institutional missions focused on societal impact. Key theories that inform this practice include:

Civic Engagement Theory: Active participation in community improvement
Community-Based Participatory Research: Collaborative approaches with community members
Social Capital Theory: Mobilizing relationship networks for collective action

Civic Engagement Across the Curriculum: a resource book for service-learning faculty in all disciplines by Richard M. Battistoni
Call Number: I-Share book
ISBN: 0966737180
Publication Date: 2002
Civic Education Across the Curriculum offers faculty in all disciplines rationales and resources for connecting their service-learning efforts to the broader goals of civic engagement. Campuses promoting engagement are beginning to tie service-learning practices to their civic mission of preparing students for participation in a diverse, democratic society. There are, however, few resources for faculty--especially those in fields not traditionally linked with civic education--to think about how civic engagement might be incorporated into their own disciplinary perspectives and course goals. This volume distills a wide range of disciplinary perspectives on citizenship into usable conceptual frameworks. It provides concrete examples of course materials, exercises, and assignments that can be used in service-learning courses to develop students' civic capacities, regardless of disciplinary area. This volume will assist faculty in their own curricular work as well as enable them to combine their individual initiatives with others across their campus.

Community Based Participatory Research
Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a hands-on, collaborative research approach between research or academic partners and community members, in which both groups have a voice in improving or changing a common concern. The ultimate goal is to enhance the community’s involvement in applied research. Partnerships draw on the strengths of both participants and provide an opportunity to pool their knowledge and resources in addressing a community need. CBPR gives community members an opportunity to be actively engaged and consulted during each step of the research process, from the development of research questions to communication of the conclusions and final results.
Social Capital
Social capital has been defined as "the resources that emerge from one's social ties" (Portes and Landolt 1996, p. 26). One of the first scholars to use the term was George Homans in Social Behavior: Its Elementary Forms (1961). Homans was interested in understanding how people in some small groups but not others are able to expand a group and transform it into a complex organization.
more...less...
Homans, George C. 1950. The Human Group. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World.
Portes, Alejandro, and Patricia

Landolt. 1996. "The Downside of Social Capital." The American Prospect 26: 18ff.

Ethics

Ethical Framework

Responsible Practice

Cultural Sensitivity: Respecting community norms and values
Power Dynamics: Addressing imbalances in university-community partnerships
Informed Consent: Following ethical guidelines for privacy and confidentiality

Informed Consent
Informed consent guidance from the EIU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

Evaluation

Evaluation and Improvement

Impact Assessment

Dual Evaluation: Measuring both academic outcomes and community impact
Stakeholder Feedback: Gathering input from all participants
Continuous Reflection: Identifying successes, challenges, and improvements

Indicators of Engagement
A collection of resources and tips to aid higher education institutions seeking to institutionalize commitments to community engagement.
Author: Campus Compact

Future Directions

Community Engagement continues to evolve as institutions like EIU take active roles in addressing complex societal challenges. Sustaining and building on our partnerships, engaging in creative problem-solving, and maintaining our commitment to the common good is what makes community engagement at Eastern Illinois University an abundant resource for Coles county, East-Central Illinois and beyond.