Elon University - Project Pericles

Project Pericles

Project Pericles at Elon University was initiated in 2002 when Elon became one of 10 universities to accept a challenge from the Eugene Lang Foundation to provide a learning experience that would “instill in students an abiding sense of social responsibility and civic concern.”

Elon’s Project Pericles goes beyond just student engagement. The university has committed to raising the level of civic engagement and social responsibility of the entire university community.

Elon University has built a reputation as a national model of engaged learning; connecting knowledge and experience in and out of the classroom. One of Elon’s primary missions is to prepare students “To be global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.”

Project Pericles at Elon University is comprised of four components:

The Periclean Scholars Program

Periclean Scholar in Namibia The Periclean Scholars Program is the centerpiece of Project Pericles at Elon University. Students chosen for this program take part in a series of courses (one per school year), culminating in a class project of global or local social change. Each cohort defines its own project.

The Class of 2006 chose awareness of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Africa, as their project. The Class of 2007 is focusing on malnutrition in Honduras. The class of 2008 is working to reduce the impact of poverty in Chiapas, Mexico.

Service Sabbaticals

Service Sabbaticals allow Elon University employees to take part in Project Pericles and contribute to the community in a significant way. Employees, either full-time faculty or staff, can apply to be relieved of their university duties for up to one month in order to work for a community organization or complete a project. Past projects have included repair work to a community church, a bike ride across America to raise money for a children’s advocacy organization, researching the possibility of an internship program between area schools and a Christian ministry, and working with a local school system to produce and archive instructional videos.

Recent changes to the Service Sabbatical program include the implementation of “rolling” applications and the introduction of more flexible time frames for the projects.

Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility

The first Periclean Award was given in May 2003 and will be awarded annually to a member of Elon’s faculty or staff whose service to the broader community exemplifies the ideas of Project Pericles. The award is presented in May at a Faculty/Staff Award Luncheon. Nominations are accepted from all full-time faculty early in the spring.

Course Enhancement Grants

The Course Enhancement Grants add another dimension to the Project Pericles program, allowing the University to tap the creativity and energy of as many faculty members as possible.

A one-time round of $1,000 grants were awarded to around 40 University professors to enhance classes such as Aboriginal Australia, a study-abroad course which focused on building a playground in Australia; Writing and Information Gathering, a journalism course that helped students better understand diverse communities; Writing About Poverty, which explored lower income families and ways to help them; and Advanced Projects in Ceramics, which benefited a local charity.

Currently, there are five faculty who are working with Pericles in a second round of grants that encourage redesigning existing classes with the goal of adding a significant civic engagement component.


Overview of Project Pericles Periclean Scholars Program Service Sabbaticals Periclean Award Course Enhancement Grants Student Choices, Student Voices Other Periclean Colleges and Universities National Project Pericles Home Community Home Project Pericles Home	Project Pericles Project Pericles at Elon University was initiated in 2002 when Elon became one of 10 universities to accept a challenge from the Eugene Lang Foundation to provide a learning experience that would “instill in students an abiding sense of social responsibility and civic concern.” Elon’s Project Pericles goes beyond just student engagement. The university has committed to raising the level of civic engagement and social responsibility of the entire university community. Elon University has built a reputation as a national model of engaged learning; connecting knowledge and experience in and out of the classroom. One of Elon’s primary missions is to prepare students “To be global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.” Project Pericles at Elon University is comprised of four components: The Periclean Scholars Program The Periclean Scholars Program is the centerpiece of Project Pericles at Elon University. Students chosen for this program take part in a series of courses (one per school year), culminating in a class project of global or local social change. Each cohort defines its own project. The Class of 2006 chose awareness of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Africa, as their project. The Class of 2007 is focusing on malnutrition in Honduras. The class of 2008 is working to reduce the impact of poverty in Chiapas, Mexico. Service Sabbaticals Service Sabbaticals allow Elon University employees to take part in Project Pericles and contribute to the community in a significant way. Employees, either full-time faculty or staff, can apply to be relieved of their university duties for up to one month in order to work for a community organization or complete a project. Past projects have included repair work to a community church, a bike ride across America to raise money for a children’s advocacy organization, researching the possibility of an internship program between area schools and a Christian ministry, and working with a local school system to produce and archive instructional videos. Recent changes to the Service Sabbatical program include the implementation of “rolling” applications and the introduction of more flexible time frames for the projects. Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility The first Periclean Award was given in May 2003 and will be awarded annually to a member of Elon’s faculty or staff whose service to the broader community exemplifies the ideas of Project Pericles. The award is presented in May at a Faculty/Staff Award Luncheon. Nominations are accepted from all full-time faculty early in the spring. Course Enhancement Grants The Course Enhancement Grants add another dimension to the Project Pericles program, allowing the University to tap the creativity and energy of as many faculty members as possible. A one-time round of $1,000 grants were awarded to around 40 University professors to enhance classes such as Aboriginal Australia, a study-abroad course which focused on building a playground in Australia; Writing and Information Gathering, a journalism course that helped students better understand diverse communities; Writing About Poverty, which explored lower income families and ways to help them; and Advanced Projects in Ceramics, which benefited a local charity. Currently, there are five faculty who are working with Pericles in a second round of grants that encourage redesigning existing classes with the goal of adding a significant civic engagement component.	Contact information: Tom Arcaro, Director Project Pericles E-mail: arcaro@elon.edu Phone: (336) 278-6442 Office: Holland 203 Mailing Address: 2610 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244