Campus Compact of the Midwest announced the launch of its Engaged Scholars Initiative, or ESI, a multi-state endeavor that will address complex, challenging, and intractable issues in society. Michigan State University, the University of Kansas and the University of Minnesota were named strategic partners, in which they will provide leadership and in-kind and financial support.
“University-community engagement has the potential to create transformational change that makes a difference in small and large-scale problems,” said Laurie Van Egeren, Interim Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement.
ESI will select and support a small cohort of engaged scholars and scholar-practitioners to advance co-created knowledge, and to lead institutional change and collaborative action.
“Sharing the academic strengths of the university with the on-the-ground local knowledge of communities can propel impact for all. This new initiative gives us the opportunity to share our existing scholarship with colleagues, expand on that knowledge, and build a new generation of leaders that supports civic engagement,” Van Egeren said. “We are honored to participate in this critical and richly rewarding work.”
The Midwest Campus Compact region includes the Great Plains, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Campus Compact is accepting applications from scholars interested in participation. Cohort members will commit to an ongoing learning and leadership process from May 2019 to August 2020.
The initiative seeks to build a cohort of individuals of all identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and institutional types. MSU faculty, staff, or administrators are encouraged to apply. Applications are due March 4, 2019.