Community Engagement For Community Partners
Community Engagement provides project-based assistance to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, government agencies and low and moderate income communities in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to undertake and complete projects that will benefit the local community, while providing Â鶹ɫÇéƬ students with experience in real-world projects that deepen their academic experiences.
Â鶹ɫÇéƬ provides our students with the best educational experiences: acquiring knowledge through classroom learning, and then applying their new skills and learning on and off-campus through research, project-based work, clinical practice, apprenticeships and internships, and creative endeavors that connect with our communities and our environment.
When we extend our expertise beyond our campus borders, we strengthen the local, national and global communities around us, while that work also serves to enrich the educational experiences we provide our students. We envision a future where Â鶹ɫÇéƬ is known for creating resilient communities that can bounce back from disruptions, innovate to meet new needs and thrive. Prioritizing active scholarship provides our community and organization partners with rigorous and relevant insights and research, and the tools to ensure long-term sustainable and equitable practices for their systems and the people they serve. Making a meaningful difference in our society and our planet is the essence of our engaged teaching, learning and scholarship.
Students acquire the intellectual habits, practices and passion they will need in order to be lifelong learners, ready and able to pursue any new personal and professional challenge that they will face, embracing the spirit of continually acquiring new skills and expertise.
Â鶹ɫÇéƬ and Town of Bristol Fund for Civic Activities
In support and recognition of the important relationship that exists between Â鶹ɫÇéƬ and the Town of Bristol, the Town of Bristol/Â鶹ɫÇéƬ Cooperative Committee created the Fund for Civic Activities (FCA). The FCA accepts grant requests twice a year to fund a broad range of projects and services proposed by individuals or non-profit organizations that work toward enhancing the civic experience in the Town of Bristol. Further detail regarding this fund, the application process and other project related criteria may be found in the FCA Application.
Applications for the 2025 cycle must be submitted by November 21st. Please see tab below for application.
Resources
In September 2007, when Â鶹ɫÇéƬ and the Town of Bristol reached agreement on the landmark PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) pact, a group comprising key representatives from both the town and the University was established to jointly consider items of mutual interest or concern.
In the years since, the Town of Bristol / Â鶹ɫÇéƬ Cooperative Committee has provided an open venue for discussion and decision-making and has assisted in building upon a truly symbiotic relationship between both parties.
Through the Fund for Civic Activities – one of its most visible initiatives - the fund has distributed $350,000 since 2009 to support local services and projects that enhanced the civic experience in Bristol.
The Fund for Civic Activities (FCA) is a grant program created to support and recognize the relationship between Â鶹ɫÇéƬ and the town of Bristol. Grant requests are accepted twice a year and may be submitted by individuals or non-profit organizations. Individual awards do not exceed $2,500.
Committee Members
Town of Bristol Representatives
Michael DeMello
Fire Chief
Carl Carulli
Town Treasurer/Finance Director
Kevin Lynch
Chief of Police
Warren Rensehausen
Director of Parks & Recreation
Dr. Ana C. Riley
Superintendent, Bristol Warren Regional School District
Diane M. Williamson
Director of Community Development
Â鶹ɫÇéƬ Representatives
Dr. John J. King
Vice President for Student Affairs, Committee Chair
Dr. Jeffrey Merriweather
Dean, School of Humanities, Arts and Education
Mark Porter
Director, Public Safety
Jill Pais
Assistant Vice President, Communications and Media Relations
Student Representative, TBD
Support of Community-Engaged Projects
We aim to find the ideal project to be incorporated into a course, student club, or organization.
Working with faculty and local partners throughout the life of the project, we:
- Make introductions; schedule and coordinate meetings
- Assist with determining a scope of work and administering a Memorandum of Agreement between Â鶹ɫÇéƬ and the community partner.
- Act as a liaison with other Â鶹ɫÇéƬ departments, including MarComm and the Provost's Office to support and promote the project.
- Arrange transportation to and from sites.
- Provide additional logistical support for meetings, presentations, etc.
Expectations of Faculty
We ask that faculty provide the following:
- Syllabus and scope of work prior to the start of the project
- Dates for meetings, site visits, presentations, etc.
- Feedback throughout the semester, including notifying our staff of any issues as soon as they arise
- Final papers, photos, renderings, etc. as documentation of the work completed
- Hands-on learning experience for students combining classroom knowledge and real-world skills.
- Anticipated budget needs for project support.
Community Service Work-Study
Students who receive federal work-study awards may earn their awards in the non profit agencies. All available work study positions are available on the Â鶹ɫÇéƬ Financial Aid Page.
Students who receive federal work study funds are encouraged to earn them by serving with non-profits. This must be a long-term experience (at least one semester). Student income is provided by the federal government and there is no cost-share to partners.
Students can help with (almost) everything your organization might need – social media presence, program facilitation, data crunching, grant app reviews, outreach, accounting, ect. When you look around your organization, do you see a place where a free, regularly scheduled set of hands could be of assistance?
Submit proposed community service work study position descriptions to engage@rwu.edu