January 2024

NEWS

The Knoxville MLK Commemorative Commission kicked off the 42nd Annual King Celebration on January 5. The theme for the 2024 celebration is "Keeping the Legacy Alive with Faith, Love, and Action," and a variety of events and workshops are being held across the region through June 17. The full list can be accessed here. 

In addition, the Clay and Debbie Jones Center for Leadership and Service are hosting their annual MLK Jr. Days of Service from January 29 to February 9 for UTK students, faculty, and staff. Volunteers will depart to various service sites in the Greater Knoxville area in three-hour blocks to serve, reflect on the meaning of Dr. King’s legacy and make meaningful connections with nonprofits in our area. Sign-up now on ServeUTK! (Remember: UTK employees can request up eight paid work hours each year to engage in volunteer service). 

On select Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the spring, the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach (OCEO) will continue to offer beginner and intermediate/advanced educational sessions on community engagement. Click on the button below, the link on the OCEO website, or scan the QR code to register for any or all of the sessions.

Sessions for the week of January 28-February 2 include: 

Cherokee Health Systems and the University of Tennessee announced a new 5-year strategic plan which envisions developing an academic-community health practice collaboration that exemplifies integrity and reciprocity to advance health-related workforce development, equity in clinical practice, and community well-being through innovation and discovery to enhance the well-being of Tennesseans. The collaboration will be known simply as REACCH - Research and Education Aligned for Clinical and Community Health. 

In 2023, UTK collaborated with the Change Center on over 40 events with 15 different departments. This partnership enhances access to higher education for inner-city youth and positively impacts the outcomes of young people in our community. Read the full impact report here. 

Last month, the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) announced the release of Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good: An Action Framework for Public Research Universities . Dr. Elyse Aurbach, who led the development of APLU’s Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good initiative, shared "The report includes concrete actions public research universities can take in eight key areas to support publicly engaged, equity-oriented, and publicly impactful scholars and scholarship. After engaging nearly 60 experts across 20 universities and organizations, my APLU colleagues and I identified ten key learnings to support engaged- and equity-oriented scholars.”

The Tombras School of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has embarked on an innovative journey with the launch of its latest venture, the Purpose Project Initiative. This forward-thinking program aims to cultivate a deeper understanding of the role of communication in shaping societal purposes and values. By integrating hands-on experiences and academic rigor, the initiative seeks to empower students to explore, question, and contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of communication. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

Campus Compact is offering a webinar from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on January 30, to share insights from the Washington Navigators on the Administration's Budget, the State of the Union, and the outlook for civic and community engagement priorities in the annual appropriations process, including community projects. 

Join the Tennessee Nonprofit Network on January 31, when the National Council of Nonprofits CEO, Tim Delaney, will discuss the state of the nonprofit sector in the United States. Register for free here.

Applications for the 2024-2025 Research Development Academy (RDA) are now open! The RDA is designed to support the development of tenure-track faculty from historically underrepresented groups. It is a collaborative year-long program, offered by the Office of the Provost, Division of Access and Engagement, and Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development. In its fifth year, RDA offers support for research, one-on-one and group coaching sessions, mentoring, community building opportunities, personal and professional development, engagement with campus leaders, and participation in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity’s Faculty Success Program. 

All tenure-track faculty who have yet to be considered for tenure are encouraged to visit the RDA webpage to learn more about the program and the application process. Applications are due on January 31. 

The Strategic Initiatives Unit within the Division of Access and Engagement will continue to host Thoughtful Thursdays on a broad range of topics. The first session of the spring semester will highlight the significance of Black History Month and will be facilitated by Anthony Preweitt on February 1.  To view the session topics, presenter, and dates for the spring semester, please click the link below.

LEAD California, Collaboratory, and North Carolina Campus Engagement are collaborating to host a webinar on February 5 entitled " Promising Promotion & Tenure Reforms for Societally-Impactful Research: Strategies and Opportunities." In this session, co-authors Emily Ozer, Jennifer Renick, Bruce Jentleson, and Bemmy Maharramli will share findings from a new white paper that scans promising reforms to faculty reward systems to recognize a wider range of scholarly contributions in promotion and tenure decisions. The webinar will also include recommendations for funders, who are increasingly pursuing investments in the structures, cultures, and conditions that enable more societally-impactful research. Benjamin Olneck-Brown will also discuss the Transforming Evidence Funders Network (TEFN)’s interest in supporting coordination among funders, university leaders, and other partners to catalyze innovations that lead to more dynamic, equitable, and impactful research systems. 

If your New Year's Resolutions included making more time for reading, or if you are just looking for new inspiring content, here are a few civic and community engagement new releases:

ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

The Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) Conference is a national conference for students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners interested in advancing the civic learning and democratic engagement movement in higher education. Next year, it will take place in Detroit, Michigan from June 5 - 7, 2024.

Organizers are currently seeking proposals for 50-minute concurrent sessions and poster presentations connected to one of the following topics:

Click here to read the Call for Proposals and submit a proposal. Proposals are due by Monday, February 5, 2024. Team submissions — especially from teams of campus community members who play various roles (i.e. students, faculty, and/or staff members working together) — are particularly encouraged, but individual submissions are also welcome.

The Faculty Women of Color in the Academy (FWCA) conference will take place April 11-14, in Arlington, Virginia.  FWCA is a unique educational and professional opportunity for indigenous and women of color in higher education to network, engage, and learn with colleagues from around the country. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a proud sponsor of this conference.

FUNDING, FELLOWSHIPS, AND AWARDS

Through grant awards from the First Horizon Foundation, First Horizon hopes to strengthen these pillars of communities: 

For Knoxville, Maryville, and Athens, applications close on January 31. To identify other eligible areas in Tennessee and their corresponding application deadlines, please click here. 

Transforming local football fields into vibrant community hubs is the mission driving the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, a collaboration with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). With a focus on revitalizing underused spaces and fostering holistic youth development aligned with USA Football's standards, this initiative goes beyond the game, nurturing communities and creating lasting impacts far beyond the field's sidelines. The program is currently seeking proposals for this initiative. Find out more about this transformative program below. The deadline for proposals is Wednesday, January 31.

Note: Only organizations located in low-moderate income areas within Target Markets are eligible to apply. For Tennessee, this includes Chattanooga, Jackson, Knoxville, Memphis and Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Sumner, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Robertson, Cannon, Hickman, Macon, Maury, Smith, Humphreys, and Trousdale Counties. 

Through project-based funding, the NEA Grants for Arts program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Applications are welcome from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time applicants; from organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets. The First Grants for Arts project deadline is February 15, and the Second Grants for Arts deadline is July 11.

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. Students can receive up to $5,000 if awarded the Gilman for a study abroad program. Applications will open again in mid-January, with a deadline of Thursday, March 7, 2024 for programs starting between Maymester 2024 and Spring 2025.

The Office of Research Innovation and Economic Development (ORIED) is soliciting requests for proposals that advance knowledge and support areas of fundamental and applied research in human health and wellness. This research funding opportunity aligns with the UT Strategic Plan which envisions a university that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion across all areas of research, scholarship, education, and outreach. 

Human Health & Wellness Team Building Activities is available until Sunday, June 30.

The Terra Foundation for American Art is extending a helping hand to artists, scholars, and institutions passionate about American art and culture. Their Convening Grants program is a golden opportunity for creative minds and organizations to receive funding for conferences, symposia, and other gatherings that foster dialogue and exploration of American art. Whether you are an artist looking to share your work, a scholar eager to disseminate your research, or an institution keen to promote American art, this program offers the financial support to make it happen. Grants range from $10,000 - $25,000. Click below to find out more.

The William T. Grant Foundation funds research that increases understanding in one of two focus areas:

The Foundation seeks research that builds stronger theory and empirical evidence in these two areas. Research should inform change and contribute to a body of useful knowledge to improve the lives of young people. There is no preference for a particular research design or method. Strongest proposals incorporate data from multiple sources and often involve multi-disciplinary teams. More information can be found at the link below.

The Brady Education Foundation is currently accepting Research Project proposals and Existing Program Evaluation proposals that have the potential to provide data that will inform how to address disparities in educational opportunities associated with race, ethnicity, and family income. The foundation is looking for sustainable, accessible, and strength-based projects. 

Office of Community Engagement and Outreach
within the Division of Access and Engagement
301 Andy Holt Tower
1331 Circle Park Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865-974-4863
Website: communityengagement.utk.edu
Email: communityengagement@utk.edu