Community Engaged Scholars

Here's what you can do to actively take part in making Asheville a better place and graduate with the honor of Community Engaged Scholar

The Community Engaged Scholar honor is one of five academic recognitions given to graduating students at UNC Asheville. It gives students the chance to become deeply involved in service learning in Asheville and Western North Carolina -- and receive recognition for their efforts. The honor was approved by the UNC Asheville Faculty Senate in March 2011.

It takes most students a few semesters to complete. Here are the requirements of becoming a Community Engaged Scholar:

• Complete six or more academic credit hours in Service-Learning Designated Courses (usually two courses). They are indicated by an SL notation beside the course when student's register for classes. You must earn a grade of B- or above in each course.
• Complete a Key Center Workshop on Service Learning
• Complete a Public Service Project that the community needs. The project does not mean doing service hours, but rather either creating something for an organization or doing research for it on some aspect of its work. In both cases, the project comes from your meeting with the organization or group and finding out what it needs – and then crafting that into your Public Service Project. Examples are too numerous to name here, but include projects such as creating a public relations or marketing campaign, developing a software program, producing a handbook or manual for clients for an organization, or conducting research on the effectiveness of an agency's program or work. A report must be written on the work and a presentation made.

Application for the Community Engaged Scholar Public Service Project

• Download the Application for the Community Engaged Scholar Public Service Project here.

Approval of UNC Asheville Public Service Project

• Download the Approval of UNC Asheville Public Service Project form here.

Important Dates

Important Dates - Summer 2012 Graduation

Application for project (with signatures) needs to be submitted by Friday, May 18. 

The public service paper needs to be submitted by Friday, July 6.

Poster presentation on the public service project must be made by July 13. 

Final paper (if revisions are needed after paper is reviewed -- and they usually are) is due Monday, July 23.

Approval of UNCA Public Service Project Form with signatures due to Key Center by Monday, July 23.

Important Dates – Fall 2012 Graduation

Application form for Public Service Project: Submitted with signatures to Key Center by Thursday, September 13.

Application Deadline for Poster Presentation to Symposium: Mid-semester (often right after Fall Break).

See http://urp.unca.edu/.

Presenters are required to provide a title and abstract sent in electronic form to mlemaste@unca.edu.

Paper due: Monday, Nov. 12. The paper will be reviewed and then comments returned to you. Revisions are likely. Papers should be submitted to keyctr@unca.edu

Revised Paper Due: Monday, Nov. 26. Submit to keyctr@unca.edu

Approval of UNCA Public Service Project Form with signatures due to Key Center by Monday, November 26.

Fall Symposium for Poster Presentation: Close to end of semester.
Please make the necessary arrangements with your employer or professor to ensure that your are available to present at the appropriate given time.

See http://urp.unca.edu/

For more information on this graduation disctinction, please see the Faculty Senate notes from 3/17/2011.