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Change Lab for Engagement Capacity Building

Strengthening Faculty Support for Community Engagement

A group of young professionals gather around a table, laughing and stacking their hands together in a gesture of teamwork. Charts, graphs, and a laptop are visible on the table, indicating a collaborative project or brainstorming session.

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🎯 Project Focus: UNO is committed to community engagement and applied scholarship, but barriers can limit faculty participation. The Change Lab for Engagement Capacity Building will serve as a resource center and innovation hub, equipping faculty and staff with the tools, policies, and support needed to integrate community engagement into their teaching, research, and service. This initiative will enhance UNO’s ability to build meaningful partnerships, expand engaged scholarship, and better serve the Omaha community​.

💡 Why It Matters

  • Community engagement is central to UNO’s mission: Faculty need institutional support and recognition to fully integrate community-based learning and research.
  • Traditional academic structures can limit engagement: Many hiring, tenure, and promotion policies prioritize conventional scholarship, making it harder for faculty to invest in community-engaged work.
  • Stronger engagement leads to better student outcomes: Applied learning opportunities improve student retention, career readiness, and civic involvement.

🚀 Key Initiatives

  • Faculty Development & Support
    • Establishes Engagement Advocates—faculty members who will lead efforts to align academic policies with community engagement priorities.
    • Provides professional development, mentorship, and resources for faculty to integrate service learning, applied research, and engaged scholarship.
  • Institutional Policy Reform
    • Works with departments, colleges, and university leadership to update hiring and tenure policies to better recognize engagement-based work.
    • Creates sustainable pathways for faculty to collaborate with community partners.
  • Stronger Campus-Community Partnerships
    • Expands faculty and student involvement in community-based projects.
    • Supports new research collaborations that address local challenges.

📈 Impact Goals

  • Increase faculty participation in community engagement and applied scholarship.
  • Improve student learning experiences through more hands-on, real-world projects.
  • Strengthen UNO’s role as a national leader in engaged research and community-based education.
  • Foster long-term institutional change by integrating community engagement into faculty hiring, tenure, and reward structures.