Faculty Development

Upcoming Discussions and Workshops

Community-Based Learning Conversation: 2024 Alamance County Community Health Assessment
Wednesday, September 24, 11:00am-12:00pm, Join on Zoom
This discussion will feature insights from the newly published Alamance County Community Health Assessment led by Arlinda Ellison (Community Health, Outreach, and Policy Director with the Alamance County Health Department). We will consider opportunities for using the report in the classroom and for engaging students with this community-led effort to identify local health priorities, explore data trends, and support action steps that address the needs of Alamance County residents.

Campus-Community Networking Hour
Thursday, October 23, 4:30pm-5:30pm, Johnston Hall
Register here by October 16
You are invited to join the Kernodle Center for Civic Life for an afternoon of networking which will bring together Elon faculty, staff, and community partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration, including community engaged courses. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a chance to connect with many partner organizations and campus departments. You will leave with valuable connections for future partnerships.

Community-Based Learning Faculty Coffee Drop-ins 
Wednesday, October 29, 10:00am-2:00pm, Acorn Coffee Shop
Thursday, October 30, 9:00am-12:00pm, Acorn Coffee Shop 
Stop by to consult with Sara Beth Hardy, Assistant Director of Community Partnerships, to discuss ways to collaborate with community partners for your winter and spring classes.

Community-Based Learning Unit I Writing Session
Wednesday, December 10, 1:00–4:00pm, Irazu Coffee Shop
Join Elena Kennedy, Faculty Fellow for Community-Based Learning, Kelsey Biting, Kernodle Center Faculty Associate, as well as other colleagues who engage in community-based learning teaching and scholarship for a relaxed, collaborative writing session focused on translating the work you’ve done this year into your Unit I. Drop in to write, reflect, and exchange informal feedback over coffee.

Community Partnerships Initiative Grants

Through funding from the Frueauff Foundation, these mini-grants provide teams of faculty, students, and community agencies financial support to launch collaborative projects. These collaborative grants will support the development of new programs, increase the effectiveness of current programs, provide opportunities for innovative research and assessment that address the root causes of problems such as homelessness and domestic violence, and support community groups in strategic planning and problem solving. Contact Bob Frigo for more information.

Application for the Community Partnerships Initiative Faculty Grant Application

Applications for 2026-2027 Opportunities

Community-Based Learning Faculty Scholars Program
Application Due May 1, 2026
Faculty who are interested in developing or strengthening a Community-Based Learning (formerly Academic Service-Learning) course are encouraged to participate in the Community-Based Learning Faculty Scholars program. Scholars are expected to participate in the Essentials of Community-Based Learning Workshop in May and attend four follow-up luncheon meetings with the Faculty Fellow for Community-Based Learning, Elena Kennedy, during the next academic year. Six faculty members will be selected for the program and will receive a $1000 stipend.

Community-Based Learning Course Development Grants
Application Due May 1, 2026
The Kernodle Center for Civic Life and the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL) offer Community-Based Learning Course Development Grants to support the evolution of existing courses across the disciplines into Community-Based Learning designated courses. Grants are awarded in the amount of $2,000 ($1,000 for the 2026-2027 academic year and $1,000 for the 2027-2028 academic year). The first year of the grant provides a stipend to compensate faculty for the work of incorporating community-based learning pedagogy into an existing course and applying for the Community-Based Learning course designation by March 31. The second year of the grant provides a stipend for launching the new Community-Based Learning designated course and assessing its effectiveness. Grant recipients will meet as a cohort approximately once a semester during the two-year grant period.

Community-Based Learning Research Scholar
Application due May 1, 2026
The Community-Based Learning Research Scholar Program is designed to assist an individual faculty member well-versed in the pedagogies of service-learning and community engagement and who would like to explore a community-based learning research project. The faculty member selected to serve as the Community-Based Learning Research Scholar will be required to meet regularly with the Faculty Fellow for Community-Based Learning, Elena Kennedy, and produce a report on specific outcomes of the research conducted. A $1500 stipend will be awarded to the recipient.