Faculty Development

Upcoming Discussions and Workshops

Essentials of Community-Based Learning Workshop for National Campuses  
Wednesday, September 16, 3:30-5:00pm, Virtual
Please RSVP here
This virtual workshop is for faculty and staff at Elon’s national campuses. 
Are you interested in creating a more authentic learning experience in your course by engaging with community partners? Could the learning objectives for your course be enhanced through community engagement? Have you ever wondered how community-based learning works and why reflection is central to that pedagogy? This workshop is appropriate for faculty members who are developing a community-based course, designing a project or assignment that involves community engagement, or are curious about community-based learning pedagogies in general. The workshop will allow for interaction with experienced faculty, Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning staff members.

Campus-Community Networking Event
Thursday, October 22/29, 4:30-5:30pm
Please RSVP here

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

2026-2027 Opportunities

Community-Based Learning Faculty Scholars Program
2027-2028 application available in Spring 2027
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.
2026-2027 Cohort: Frank Gentry (Management), Mel Gil (English), Lauren Guilmette (Philosophy), Nikita Shepherd (History)

Community-Based Learning Course Development Grants
2027-2028 application available in Spring 2027
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 February 15. 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.
2026-2028 Cohort: Donna Boyette (Accounting), Smaraki Mohanty (Marketing), Bethanny Sudabiyo (Spanish)
2025-2027 Cohort: Lisa Buchanan (Education), Sandra Darfour-Oduro (Public Health), Chris Nelson (Marketing)

Community-Based Learning Research Scholar Program
2027-2028 application available in Spring 2027
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(s).
2026-2027 Cohort: Dillan Bono-Lunn (Political Science and Public Policy), Tony Reyes (Human Service Studies), Carol Smith (Wellness)

ENG 1100 and COR 1100 Community Engaged Learning Community of Practice
This community of practice is designed to assist faculty teaching ENG 1100 and COR 1100 courses in helping first-year students connect with the Alamance County community and introduce them to the array of community and civic engagement opportunities available.
2026-2027 Cohort: Rebecca Bagley (Communication Design – COR 1100), Catherine Bowlin (English – COR 1100), Archie Crowley (English – ENG 1100), Brooks Depro (Economics – COR 1100), Mel Gil (English – ENG 1100), Celia Hameury (Engineering – COR 1100)