CAMPUS PROFILE
(Newport News, VIRGINIA)
Christopher Newport University’s Community-Engaged Learning initiative is spearheaded by the following three individuals:
Vanessa Buehlman, Director, Center for Community Engagement
Angela Spranger, Chief Officer, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Brooke Covington, Academic Director, Center for Community Engagement
The 2021-2021 academic year provided anticipated challenges due to COVID-19 and unanticipated challenges due to staffing changes. The pandemic afforded opportunities to evaluate the course of action, and a change in Academic Director is ushering in new perspectives, ideas, and energy as the university moves forward with community-engaged learning initiatives.
The priority of Christopher Newport’s CEL plan is to conduct a course inventory. Two student CEL interns have been hired and will be conducting a comprehensive course inventory over the summer and into Fall 2021. Collaborations with the university’s newly established Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Center for Sustainability in Education have broadened the scope of the inventory to include not only courses with CEL components but those with sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion components as well. This thorough inventory will provide the data and knowledge needed to move forward with three multi-pronged initiatives:
Courses identified in the inventory will be matched with CNU’s ten service tracks (Aging, Arts and Culture, Civic Engagement & Social Justice, Community Development, Environment & Animals, Health Related, Hunger & Housing, International Interest, Women’s Interest, Youth Development & Education). This will enable students to pursue academic courses within their service track and/or allow students pursuing the Minor in Civic Engagement & Social Justice to pursue an academic pathway within the minor that mirrors the service tracks.
The CCE’s Director and Academic Director will meet with Deans and other administrators to discuss next steps (course identifiers, identification of new or expansion of existing courses to add CEL experiences, discuss the resources and support needed for faculty to do this work, recognition of faculty already doing CEL).
The CCE’s website (cnuengage.org) is changing platforms for increased functionality. This complete site update will include a community partner database and service opportunity database allowing partners to submit service, research, project and other CEL opportunities. The inventory will help inform where this work is already happening on campus and provide examples of best practices for other faculty to pursue these opportunities as part of their course work. The website will also feature faculty resources, to include information on CEL, finding community-identified opportunities, CEL course trainings, etc.
With a new Academic Director transitioning into the Center in May 2021, the decision was made to revamp the selection process for CEL Faculty Fellows. Dr. Angela Spranger, Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will remain a Fellow going into AY 21-22. The AY21-22 CEL Faculty Fellow cohort will be rounded out with representatives from each of CNU’s four colleges to ensure a broader, more diverse team. The Center for Community Engagement staff looks forward to sharing the new website, resources, and outcomes from the course inventory in Fall 2021.