Funding and Resources

Community-Engaged Teaching Fellows Program Research Enrichment Grants Community-Engaged Learning Course Development Stipends Community Engagement Workshop Series and Events

Community-Engaged Teaching Fellows Program

The Community-Engaged Teaching Fellows Program is a CCE academic support initiative that guides faculty in the design and implementation of effective community-engaged teaching and learning. A select group of fellows receives a stipend and meets monthly through the academic year to discern how academic service-learning courses and community-based scholarship can support their professional teaching and research goals. Interactive sessions will assist in fine-tuning theoretical frameworks, networking with like-minded faculty and community partners, and exploring best practices for community engagement. This program is open to instructors of every rank and discipline. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026–27 academic year cohort of fellows. Applications are due June 5, 2026.


Community Engagement Faculty Teaching and Research Enrichment Grants

Grants are available to support faculty with up to $5,000 in funding for community-engaged teaching and research. Grant funding is designed to enhance student learning, faculty teaching and scholarship, and community outcomes. 

Â鶹Éç has adopted the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching definition of community engagement, and funded projects should be in line with this definition:

Community engagement is defined as the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. 

The expected outcomes for such collaborations are enriched scholarship, research and creative activities; enhanced curriculum, teaching and learning; preparation of educated, engaged citizens; strengthening of democratic values and civic responsibility; the addressing of critical societal issues; and contributions to the public good.

Two types of grants are available. Standard grants, up to $5,000, are accepted by three deadlines each year. Small grants, up to $1,000, are accepted on a rolling basis. Grants support both community-engaged learning courses and community-engaged research. In your application, you will select one grant track:

  • Community-engaged learning (CEL) courses (i.e., students participate in community service activities linked to learning outcomes and ongoing reflection)
  • Course-based community-engaged research (i.e., students engage in project-based research in collaboration with a community partner)
  • Community-engaged research and scholarship (i.e., research designed and implemented in collaboration with a community partner)

Having a community-engaged learning (CEL) course designation is not a requirement when applying for the grant. However, seeking the CEL designation is an expected outcome for teaching and course-based research related grants.

Funded initiatives are typically carried out in partnership with a nonprofit, governmental or other public-purpose organization. Grants to support activities with other types of external entities may be considered; however, the applicant must demonstrate a clear public or community benefit.

The strongest proposals will meet the following criteria:

For standard grants (up to $5,000):

  • The community partner has an active and equitable role in the design and implementation of the community-engaged project/course, including as the primary diver in identifying the community priority of the project/course.
  • There are strong and well-defined outcomes/impacts on the community partner and broader community. There is a plan for how these outcomes/impacts will be assessed.
  • The community-engaged project will enhance student learning, and there is a clear connection to student learning outcomes for the course (for course-based projects).
  • The community-engaged project will enhance faculty scholarly outputs. This can include traditional and non-traditional scholarly products (for research-based projects).
  • Priority is given to projects impacting the local community, but projects outside of Broome County are also supported.

For small grants (up to $1,000):

  • The community-engaged project will enhance student learning (for course-based projects).
  • The community-engaged project will benefit the community partner or broader community.
  • The community-engaged project will enhance faculty scholarly outputs (for research-based projects).
  • Priority is given to projects impacting the local community, but projects outside of Broome County are also supported.

Grant funding is available to support the following costs:

  • Supplies/materials required to carry out engagement activities
  • Honoraria for community guest speakers
  • Student travel to partner sites
  • Event costs clearly tied to the community-engaged project
  • Incentives for research participants
  • Stipends for research assistants
  • Other costs necessary to carry out the community engagement activities

We do not fund:

  • Conference travel
  • Publication fees
  • Donations to community partners (community partner recognitions are available as part of the grant process; see more information below)
  • Stipends for full-time faculty to carry out engagement activities (course development stipends are available for faculty developing a new community-engaged learning course; see details below)
  • Activities that are not tied to a community-engaged course or community-engaged research project
  • Activities that do not meet the University’s definition of community engagement (see above)

Only one grant can be awarded to an individual faculty member in an academic year.

We highly recommend that you complete the section of the application "Community Partner Recognition Request." This funding is in addition to your grant. Funding will go directly to a community organization for their efforts in partnering with faculty on community-engaged teaching and/or research. 

Timeline:

Applications for small grants (up to $1,000) are accepted on a rolling basis. 

Applications for standard grants up to $5,000 are accepted by three deadlines: one in the fall, one in the spring and one in the summer. Award decisions will be made after these deadlines. The next deadlines are:

  • July 1, 2026
  • November 2, 2026 

Award decisions are typically made within 3 weeks.

To apply:

For a small grant (max $1,000)

For a standard grant (max $5,000)


Community-Engaged Learning Course Development Stipends

A $1,000 stipend is available for developing a new or revised course that integrates community-engaged learning (CEL) and successfully obtains a CEL course designation.

A community-engaged learning course is a credit bearing class that requires active student participation and engagement that meet identified community challenges and opportunities and requires structured critical reflection tied to course learning outcomes.

CEL designated courses raise awareness about the significant effort being made by faculty, schools and departments on campus to enhance student learning and deepen university-community engagement, and allow students to make informed and intentional decisions in selecting courses that engage the community.

Requirements:

  1. a consultation meeting with the CCE faculty engagement associate when the stipend has been awarded and again when prepared to apply for the CEL course designation
  2. viewing and responding to prompts related to four community-engaged learning asynchronous workshops (the number of required workshops will be based on past experience with CEL)
  3. submitting a successful CEL course designation application

Restrictions: Faculty/instructors can only apply for one CEL Course Development Stipend per academic year. Previously approved CEL designated courses are not eligible for this stipend. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  


Community Engagement Workshop Series and Events

The Center for Civic Engagement hosts workshops throughout the academic year on opportunities for funding, establishing and tracking community-based learning, teaching and research. These workshops provide an overview of what community-engaged teaching and research entails, how to establish or maintain community-based projects and how the CCE can support faculty engaging in this work. 

Faculty are also encouraged to attend the CCE’s annual events to connect with community partners, faculty and students interested in community-engaged teaching and research. Every Fall, we host our Community Opportunities Fair which invites community partners and service based campus offices and organizations to table and connect with interested faculty and students. In the Spring, we host the Community-Engaged Learning and Research Showcase, a poster session which  celebrates the impact of community-engaged learning or research resulting from strong partnerships between faculty, students and the community. 

to receive information about these workshops, events, funding and resources. Refer to our for additional funding and support opportunities.