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Community Engagement Associate

Community Engagement Associate Program

Overview of the Community Engagement Associate Program

History and goals of the program

The Community Engagement Associate (CEA) program has a long history at IU Indianapolis, starting with the Service Learning Assistant (SLA) Scholarship Program. Historically, community-engaged faculty and staff received funding to provide scholarships to students to support work in service learning courses, community-engaged programs, or community-based research projects that advanced the community-engagement mission of IU Indianapolis. In 2021, the SLA program shifted to a student employment program in which students and community engagement associates (CEAs) were hired to work part-time hours to support faculty and staff in their community-engaged endeavors.

As the campus adopts a new identity and an increased focus on equitable access to engaged learning, the CEA program is also evolving to reflect campus priorities, particularly those outlined in the IU Indianapolis 2030 strategic plan.

After an initial funding cycle supporting course and curriculum applications, which are due on March 22, 2024, the Institute for Engaged Learning (IEL) will consider applications from faculty/staff who are committed to supporting service learning civic engagement (SLCE) in settings beyond the classroom (e.g., co-curricular initiatives) or that assist faculty in their ongoing SLCE research or practice work that can benefit from student CEA support.

Applicants in this category will receive funding support to hire a student CEA(funding equivalents = 1 student at $14/hour x 10 hours a week x 16-week fall and/or spring semesters; and/or up to 25 hours a week for a 12-week summer semester). The maximum amount of funding that can be awarded per applicant to be used for CEA student employment is $10,920. CEA's can be undergraduate or graduate students.

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Applicant/mentor requirements

To successfully meet the expectations of the CEA program and remain eligible for future funding, faculty/staff awardees of CEA funding will be required to:

Complete regular CEA program progress reports as requested by the IEL (August, December, May), to ensure future funding transfers; these reports will include information about student CEA outcomes, as well as progress toward project goals.

Attend an orientation session hosted by the IEL for new CEA faculty mentors or a program refresh for returning mentors before hiring student CEAs.

Engage as a supportive, developmental supervisor of student CEA, with timely approval of time sheets, prompt responses to communication from the IEL, and proactive conversations about any issues that occur.

Lead a mid-term developmental conversation with student CEA before the end of the funding cycle.

Offer support and mentorship for CEA’s demonstration of learning project (e.g., ePortfolio for showcase or artifact presentation at end-of-year engaged learning event).

Processes and deadlines for 2024

April 1–15: SLCE faculty/staff applies for CEA program funding.

April 26: Applicants notified of funding support.

April 30: Approved applicants complete their letter of acceptance.

Monthly, starting one month after each semester: Funds transferred from IEL to awardee’s fiscal account at beginning of each funded semester, pending appropriate completion of documentation.

Awardees hire student CEA and communicate CEA contact information to the IEL (timing dependent on individual projects).

Expectations of students in the CEA program

To successfully complete their CEA employment experience, students will:

Attend an IEL orientation/networking session in the hiring semester to meet other CEAs and their faculty mentors.

Attend at least one IEL in-person professional development workshop each semester CEA is employed in the program. A schedule with workshops offered by the IEL will be provided before the fall and spring semesters. Mentors must allow CEAs to attend workshops and complete required paperwork for the IEL as part of their paid hours.

Demonstrate the learning aligned with their CEA work at an approved event by the end of the 2025 academic year (details coming soon, but may include an ePortfolio presented in the Engaged Learning Showcase and/or a presentation of learning at an in-person engaged learning public event).

Complete a mid-term performance evaluation conversation with their faculty mentor.

Complete an IEL year-end reflection and survey before ending their CEA position.