2026 Engaged Scholarship Symposium

Call for Proposals

Symposium Theme: Higher Education Engaging Students and Community Partners

Sponsored by the Office of Community Engagement & the College of Arts and Sciences

University of Louisville
2026 Engaged Scholarship Symposium 
Friday March 20, 2026
Shelby Campus

The 2026 Engaged Scholarship Symposium will take place on Friday, March 20 on Shelby Campus. The theme is Higher Education Engaging Students and Community Partners. This theme focuses on the various ways in which we within higher education are engaging with community partners and providing an avenue for students to be involved in these activities, whether through curricular or co-curricular engagement. Engaging students in these collaborative efforts exposes them to challenges facing our communities but also teaches students the value of civic engagement. 

The 2026 Engaged Scholarship Symposium is seeking proposals from faculty, staff, students, and community members on the collaboration between the university and community. Proposals should address how higher education and the community are collaborating on teaching, research, and outreach projects and how these projects are fostering civic learning among individuals, primarily students. Strong proposals should include any combination of faculty, staff, students, and community partners as co-presenters. 

Proposals should address one of the following areas listed below and the related questions/statements. Some of the topics in which we are interested include:

Symposium Tracks

Civic engagement (particularly for students): In a democratic society it is important for students to be civically engaged in the democratic process as well as aware of challenges facing our communities. This section looks at the various ways in which civic engagement is being fostered and promoted among citizens, primarily students.

Place-based engagement: When we think of place-based engagement, it is universities focusing on a specific geographic location which has been identified as high need. In the case of the University of Louisville, this is west Louisville, where residents experience high poverty rate, low unemployment, health challenges, and lack of educational attainment. In what way is community engagement addressing community challenges through place-based engagement? How are students involved? How are you collaborating with community partners to address the challenges?

Partnerships & Collaboration: Community Engagement requires the development of partnerships that are collaborative in nature for mutually beneficial results. In what way are community partners involved in your teaching, research, and outreach activities? How is their voice manifested in your work? How were these partnerships developed and sustained over the years?

Non-profits Navigating Challenges/Current Market: Non-profits provide essential services to our communities but are experiencing many challenges, including financial. How is your teaching, research, and/or outreach work helping non-profits mitigate the challenges they are confronting. Share about your partnership with non-profit organizations and how you are working together.

Sustainability and Community Engagement: Floods and other natural and man-made disasters greatly impact the environment and our communities, affecting the lives of many individuals. In what ways are you collaborating with community partners to address sustainability and environmental issues? 

Proposals should adhere to one of the following four presentation formats.

  1. Lightning Talk – A Lightning talk is a 6-minute presentation that provides a brief overview of your project, noting specifics. It is not intended to provide details but merely to highlight a few key points to spark the interest of attendees, who may seek out the presenter to learn more. This format is best suited for one presenter. Presentations of similar themes/topics will be placed together.
  2. Panel Presentations – Panel presentations are 15-minute presentations with other panelists. Presenters should provide details about their work, noting specific areas that would be beneficial to attendees.
  3. Round Table Presentations – Round table presentations are designed to be highly interactive sessions for small groups of 6 to 8 individuals where the topic is discussed in detail. The presenter(s) should give a short presentation on the topic such as the results of a research study or description of the community-based teaching/learning activity, clinical, or other program then open up the conversation for a rich discussion. The presenter(s) should then facilitate an engaging conversation with participants to answer questions, share ideas, gather feedback, and discuss best practices or innovative approaches.
  4. Posters – The poster session is primarily for student presenters but could accommodate others. Presenters will be required to present their posters during the allotted time and be available to discuss their work and answer questions about their project. 

Proposal Submission Form

Deadline: January 21, 2026. For questions, contact Henry Cunningham, Assist. Vice President for Engaged-Scholarship, by e-mail or by calling 852-8946.