Community-Engaged Scholars Program

Work that hasn’t come together yet needs the right kind of structure.

The Community-Engaged Scholars Program is a facilitator-led, 12-week experience for students and adult learners developing research, writing, or community-based work that takes time to take shape.

If you’re working on something that matters to you—but it has not fully come together yet—this program provides a consistent space to stay engaged with your work, develop your ideas, and build clarity over time.

The program is offered at no cost to participants.

The Community-Engaged Scholars Program is a facilitator-led, 12-week program for students who want to develop their own community-engaged work while participating in a cohort. During the program, you use readings, resources, and guided activities and apply what you are learning directly to your own work. You’re not working on your own—you’re working alongside others who are also developing their ideas over time.

Many students try to develop ideas or projects in isolation, without a consistent way to stay engaged with them. In this program, you meet regularly with the same group of participants and return to your work each week with a clear focus. Facilitators help you think through your work and decide what to focus on next, while you learn from how others approach their own ideas.

For a concise overview of the program, including structure, participation, and cohort details, you may download the program brochure.

Download the Community-Engaged Scholars Program brochure (PDF, opens in a new tab)

You can explore different parts of the program below, depending on what you’re looking for.

What participation looks like week to week

Each week follows a consistent rhythm. You work on your own project using readings, resources, and guided activities, and you participate in ongoing discussion with the same group of participants, along with occasional live sessions held online.

Throughout the week, you return to your work with a clear focus while working alongside others who are also developing their own ideas. Facilitators provide guidance as you move forward, helping you think through your work and decide what to focus on next.

Returning to your work each week helps you stay engaged, instead of losing momentum.

What you can work on in the program

In this program, community engagement refers to work that is connected to real communities, contexts, or issues. You may be trying to better understand something, respond to a need, contribute to a project, or develop work that connects your studies or interests to a community setting.

You might use the program to:

• develop a research question or refine a topic connected to a community issue
• work on a literature review or strengthen the research foundation for your project
• design or refine your research approach
• continue a project connected to a course, thesis, or dissertation
• write or revise sections of a paper or research-based project
• develop an idea you want to explore further in a community context

Some participants bring work that is closely connected to their academic studies, while others bring community-based ideas they want to keep developing over time. The program does not assign new work. Instead, it gives you a structured environment where you can continue developing work that already matters to you.

You do not need to follow one specific approach. The program is designed to support different kinds of community-engaged work, and you are encouraged to develop your work in ways that align with your own interests, questions, and goals.

Is this program a good fit for you?

This program may be a good fit for you if you are interested in community engagement and have an idea, question, or area of work you would like to continue developing over time in a structured setting. You do not need a fully developed idea to participate, but it helps to have a clear starting point and a willingness to return to your work consistently throughout the program.

The program works best for students who want guided time to focus, reflect, and make steady progress while working alongside others who are doing the same. If you are looking for a space to keep developing your own work rather than starting from scratch or having someone else complete it for you, this program may be a good fit.

How to apply to the program

We select 40 participants each quarter, with each cohort including students from high school through doctoral levels. The program is offered at no cost to participants.

New cohorts begin in February, May, August, and November. When you apply, you will select the cohort you are applying to and complete a short application describing the work you would like to bring into the program and how you hope to use the time.

The application is not an evaluation of your qualifications or experience. It is used to understand your interests and to determine whether the program is a good fit for what you are working on. You do not need to have a fully developed project to apply.