Engaged Scholarship

Engaged Research Fund: Centering Community Voices in Research

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Deadline for Applications: April 15, 2021 at midnight EDT | Application Portal will open April 1st
The OSUN Engaged Research Fund invites applications for funding and research support for graduate students and faculty at OSUN partner institutions who are working to develop long-term, sustainable community partnerships as a central part of their research with a goal to develop shared knowledge about issues that align with OSUN priorities and themes. 

The Engaged Scholar Award (ESA) is for graduate students pursuing research that integrates community engagement into new or existing scholarship. Award: $6,000

The Engaged Faculty Scholar Award (EFSA) is for faculty whose scholarship incorporates community-based research into new or existing research and supports sustained community partners as long term collaborators. Award: $9,000

About the Engaged Research Fund:

The Engaged Research fund supports graduate students and faculty at OSUN partner institutions who are working to develop long-term, sustainable community partnerships as a central part of their research with a goal to develop shared knowledge about issues that align with OSUN priorities and themes.   

Model
The fund provides financial and infrastructural support for graduate students and faculty at member institutions who are interested in engaged scholarship. This support is designed to help scholars identify community partners, conduct and publish community engaged research, and develop meaningful collaborations beyond their institutions. Engaged research furthers knowledge and critical debate about challenging societal questions while widening the range of participation and the impact of that research. 

The Engaged Research Fund places high value on research that builds community partnerships based on the foundation of mutuality and reciprocity while working to expand or develop research that addresses critical social issues. 

Program Description

The Engaged Scholar Award (ESA) is for graduate students pursuing research that integrates community engagement into existing or new scholarship. Award: $6,000

The Engaged Faculty Scholar Award (EFSA) is for faculty whose scholarship incorporates community-based research into new or existing research and supports sustained community partners as long term collaborators. Award: $9,000

What is Engaged Research?

Community-engaged research (CEnR) is defined as research that engages in “the process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of those people” (Centers for Disease Control definition, 1997) .

Engaged research transforms traditional research methodology by integrating and centering community knowledge as part of the research process.  Engaged research works to enhance and develop sustained community partnerships between researchers and community partners.  The core mission of the research aims to investigate, understand and address an issue of interest or concern to communities and where community partners are actively involved throughout the research process. Engaged research fosters community partnerships with the goal of mobilizing research to influence systems and serve as catalysts for change within communities.

Critical Issues

The core of OSUN’s partnerships are embedded in the belief that universities  
play a key role in addressing entrenched social issues and that institutions have a responsibility to work as civic actors. OSUN partners are working within their communities to address critical issues which includes using research and scholarship to make change.  The Fund will give priority to applicants whose research addresses OSUN’s key focus areas that include: 
 

Selection

Successful applicants will use models of community based research that incorporate best practices and establish community partnerships that move collaborations beyond simple community outreach and have the potential to create shared leadership models between researchers and their community partners. Applicants will be selected on the basis of their scholarship and the potential for their research to make impacts within their communities.  

Funds can support direct research and partnerships along with additional training or supportive learning experiences that are relevant to community-engaged research or scholarship.

Who Can Apply? 

Faculty and graduate students studying at OSUN universities whose research and scholarship has direct relevance to the masters thesis or doctoral dissertation and whose primary focus is embedded in community partnership.

The program does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, pregnancy and maternity or marriage and/or civil partnership. 

Application

The Engaged Scholar Award (ESA) is for graduate students pursuing research that integrates community engagement into existing or new scholarship. Awards: 6,000
  • Up to date CV;
  • 2,000 word project proposal that includes:
    • applicant’s research question
    • proposed community partnership
    • outlines how the research is action oriented and builds capacity for the community
    • identifies potential community impacts and how those impacts will measured;    
  • A detailed budget and timeline of your community-based research proposal or first year of doctoral studies curricula, with a clear explanation of when and how you will use the requested funds;
  • Scan of current official graduate school transcript;
  • A letter of recommendation from your academic supervisor that confirms and supports the proposed community partnership and confirms if the activity will need IRB/ethics committee approval for the proposed activities (scanned and attached to application);
  • A letter from a community partner that establishes a clear community-academic research partnership and the potential impact the research can have in the community.  
  • An official letter from your academic institution confirming your enrollment status, department, and expected completion date (scanned and attached to application);

The Faculty Fellows Engagement Award (FFEA) is for faculty whose scholarship incorporates community-based research into new or existing research and supports sustained community partners as long term collaborators. Awards: $9,000
  • Up to date CV;
  • 2,000 word project proposal that includes:
    • applicant’s research question
    • proposed community partnership
    • outlines how the research is action oriented and builds capacity for the community
    • identifies potential community impacts and how those impacts will measured
    • Addresses how the partnership can be maintained long-term 
  • A detailed budget and timeline of your community-based research proposal with a clear explanation of when and how you will use the requested funds;
  • A letter from a community partner that establishes a clear community-academic research partnership and the potential impact the research can have in the community as identified by the community partner;
  • An official letter from your institution of employment confirming your status as a faculty member and endorsing the proposed research project (scanned and attached to application);
  • An academic reference letter from a senior colleague in your field with direct knowledge of your work and your proposed research topic (scanned and attached to application).


Cross Reference: Grant,Engagement, Research,Engaged Scholarship