Outreach and Engagement: Resources for Faculty and Staff
The Carnegie Community Engagement classification defines Community Engagement as:
“The collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity” (Carnegie Foundation, 2008).
Colorado State University applies this definition of community engagement across a spectrum of engagement and outreach activities, including both for-credit and non-credit or extra-curricular programs.
CSU Engagement uses the following definition of community: “identifiable groups of individuals external to the university that share a common interest, concern, or educational need around a subject-matter area.” University-community engagement includes communities of place, interest, purpose, and practice.
Engaged Scholarship refers to the integration of academic scholarship and community engagement.
The Continuum of Engaged Scholarship showcases a spectrum of diverse scholarship-based outreach and engagement activities conducted in all areas of the university’s mission: teaching, research, service, and extension.
Download a PDF version of the Continuum of Engaged Scholarship
From the CSU Academic Faculty and Administrative Professional Manual:
The scholarship-based model of outreach/engagement stimulates interaction with the community, which produces discipline-generated, evidence-based practices. Outreach/engagement activities may be integrated into the faculty member’s teaching, research, and/or service effort distribution. Outreach/engagement activities are not a mandated component of every faculty member’s effort distribution, but are to be included where appropriate to the mission of the faculty member, department, and college. For the activity to be scholarly, it must draw upon the academic and professional expertise of the faculty member while contributing to the public good, addressing or responding to real-world problems. The standards for assessing the scholarship of outreach/engagement activities will vary among disciplines and should be specified by each academic unit and incorporated into departmental codes.
The Manual offers additional guidance as to scholarly outreach/engagement activities related to teaching, research and service activities in section E.12, notably E.12.4.
The external link below lists journals publishing engaged scholarship and community engagement work:
CSU Engagement Awards include:
In 2018, Colorado State University awarded its first annual Community Engagement Scholarship Awards.
Other university awards include:
- CSU Service-Learning Awards
- College of Health and Human Sciences outstanding engagement award
National Engagement Awards include:
CSU Resources and Offices
In 2016, CSU established the Provost’s Council for Engagement. The Council is a faculty-driven initiative to advance the practice and recognition of engaged scholarship as embedded within the university missions of teaching, research and service.
The Council consists of approximately 12 faculty members, nominated by their respective deans, who represent all eight colleges and CSU Libraries.
CSU College of Liberal Arts created a white paper on Engaged Scholarship in 2017.
Additional CSU units with a community engagement focus include:
- The Service-Learning program at The Institute for Learning and Teaching
- The Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement
National University Engagement Resources
These associations have additional online resources, trainings, and annual meetings for faculty and staff involved in engagement scholarship and/or community engagement activities.
- The Engagement Scholarship Consortium*
- Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities: Economic Development and Community Engagement*
- Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life
*Colorado State University membership
CSU earned the Carnegie Foundation's Classification for Community Engagement designation in 2000 and 2015. The Classification is a nationally reviewed process and documents important aspects of institutional mission, identity and commitments. It is an evidence-based certification of institutional practice, similar to an accreditation process of self-study. More about the Carnegie Engagement Classification
In 2016, CSU earned the Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) Universities Designation from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The IEP Awards Program recognizes institutions who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to and achievement in economic and community development – CSU received the “Place” Award in 2016. More about the Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities Program
In 2018, CSU earned the “Talent” Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The Innovation and Economic Prosperity Awards Program recognizes institutions who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to and achievement in economic and community development. More about the Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities Program
CSU has been recognized on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Honor Roll identifies institutions that support exemplary service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships. More about the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
