CAMPUS PROFILE
(Lynchburg, Virginia)
Cindy Ferguson, Director of Community Engagement and Bonner Leaders
Using the framework of where they have been working with the Bonner Leader Program, they will focus on the following three areas:
1.Forging work on “Pathways for Advocacy and Action”
Sharon Foreman, Associate Professor of Sociology and Bonner Faculty Fellow
Submit a proposal for Minor in Poverty Studies & Social Justice which includes coursework across disciplines and culminates in a Capstone Project; this will be submitted in Fall 2021 process.
Inventory current course catalog to highlight courses with community engaged learning components; this will begin Summer 2021
Begin research for minor for Community Development using eight themes of the Bonner Program which also crosses disciplines; this will begin Summer 2021.
Research, develop and submit proposal for Certificate in Community Engagement; the goal to submit this proposal is Fall 2021 process.
2.Demonstrate partnership among Center for Community Engagement and Center for Community Development and Social Justice while bringing in other Centers on campus
Continue CEL Initiative (Working with Dr. Sharon Foreman)
Begin interviews with Center Directors to collect data on community engaged learning that is already taking place to tell the story of University of Lynchburg Community Engagement (These interviews will begin in Fall 2021)
Begin research in preparation for application process for Carnegie Endorsement for Community Engagement (Review previous application processes during Summer 2021 in preparation for upcoming)
3. Demonstrate work to support faculty
Series of Workshops using the Bonner Foundation’s Professional Development for Community Engaged Learning & Scholarship (working with 14 faculty/staff who are piloting a CBR project)
Series of five workshops to begin during Fall 2021 with faculty/staff who are participating in the CBR Pilot Project
■ Community-Engaged Learning in Higher Education (working with Ari to lead this with Cindy and Sharon to kick off the series)
■ Community-Based Research (Dr. Sharon Foreman)
■ Developing Sustained Relationships with Community Partners (Cindy Ferguson)
■ Critical Perspectives and Inclusive Voices (guest speaker)
■ Community-Engaged Scholarship (Sharon and possibly Dr. Karen Musil)
● Stipends for faculty completing workshops and maybe a CEL certification
○ Working with advancement for a proposal for a possible earmark for Community-Engagement Project as other funding sources
● Stipends for faculty conducting Community Based Research projects
○ Working with advancement for a proposal for a possible earmark for Community-Engagement Project as other funding sources
● Onboard with GivePulse to help with data collection and matching
○ Working with Givepulse to onboard with in the next month
○ Will be using Givepulse for CBR Pilot Project
NOTE: The continued work of this CEL initiative is also helping with President Alison Morrison-Shetlar’s initiatives to create a CBR Hub.
Highlights of coursework or curriculum change achieved or in process
Minor in Poverty Studies and Social Justice should be ready to propose in October 2021
Certificate in Community Engagement - hoping to propose in the Fall as well
Will begin work with Registrar to tag courses with SL or CEL
Institutional Change Projects (such as inventories, tracking systems, councils, policies, etc.)
● Convened Center for Community Engagement Advisory Board with charge given by President Allison Morrison-Shetlar. Board includes: Christine Kennedy, Chair, COO - Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, Dr. Bob Shetlar, Vice Chair, First Gentleman, Dr. Derrick Brown, Principal - Amherst County High School, Dr. Sharon Foreman, Faculty Fellow, Director, CCDSJ, Laura Hamilton, Exec. Director - Beacon of Hope, Dan Harrison, Pastor - Church of the Covenant, Dr. Sabita Manian, Associate Dean, School of Social Sciences, Professor, International Relations, Sarah Quarantotto, Exec. Director - Miriam’s House, Christie Rapp, Office Manager - Spiritual Life Center, Karen Simonton, Strategic Alliance Director - The OrthoForum, Michelle Thomas, Corporate Development Manager - CentraHealth, Sharon Walters-Bowers, Director of Admissions - University of Lynchburg
● Working with President Alison Morrison-Shetlar in her initiative called Lynchburg Tomorrow (asset mapping, making collective impacts, etc.). Key Community Stakeholders includes: Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar,President, University of Lynchburg, Mary Jane Dolan, LC Mayor, University Board of Trustees, Beau Wright, LC Vice Mayor , Director of Operations, Protect Democracy, Marjette Upshur, Director, LC Economic Development, John Hughes, Asst City Manager, Pastor, Ted Delaney, Director, Lynchburg Museum System, Dr. Crystal Edwards, Superintendent, Lynchburg City Schools, Dr. John Capps, President, Central Virginia Community College, Megan Lucas, CEO/Chief Economic Development Officer, Regional Business Alliance, Christine Kennedy, COO/Executive Vice President, Regional Business Alliance, Nathaniel Marshall, University Chair of Trustees, SR. HR Specialist, BWXT, Bill Bodine, Executive Director, Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, Ryan Zuidema , Chief, Lynchburg Police Department, Richard Tugman, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Centra Health, Barbara Atkins, Asst to President, CentraHealth, Geoffrey Kershner, Executive Director,Academy Center of the Arts, Byron Elliott, Sr. Pastor, Rivermont Baptist Church, Peggy Dunning, Faith in Action, Treney Tweedy, COO, Virginia University of Lynchburg, Dr. Allison Jablonski, Provost, VP of Academic Affairs, Mike Jones, VP of University Communications & Marketing, Dr. Ed Polloway, Retired, VP Community Advancement, Dr. Chip Walton, Assoc. Provost, Dean of General Studies, Dr. Roger Jones, Assoc. Provost, Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Owen Cardwell, Schewel Professorship Chair,College of Education, Dr. Bill Lokar, Dean, Lynchburg College of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Nancy Hubbard, Dean, School of Business and Economics, Dr. Rusty Smith, Dean, College of Health Sciences, Cindy Ferguson, Director, Center for Community Engagement
● Work with faculty/staff across disciplines to pilot community-based research project, including: Dr. Rebekkah McLellan, Health Promotion, Dr. Tonya Price, Health Promotion, Dr. Jeanne Booth, Counselor Education, Dr. Janice Sinoski, Nursing, Dr. Tom Bowman, Athletic Training, Dr. Jeffrey E Herrick, Exercise Physiology, Dr. Tim Schauer, Marketing, Dr. Ei Hlaing , Psychology, Dr. Owen Cardwell, College of Education, LS & Counseling, Nana Manu, Graduate Assistant in College of Education, Emily Caldwell. Doctor of Medical Science, Alexandra Cash, Doctor of Medical Science, Dr. Beth Hart, Doctor of Medical Science, Randy Ribler, Computer Science
● Onboarding with Givepulse Tracking System
● 2020-2024 CCE Strategic Plan
Stories or anecdotes that give people a clearer picture of your work
● Sharing with campus and community partners the meaning of community engagement to be a continuum from volunteerism to community-based research
● Having a strategic plan to define our work and give timelines
● University Communication and Marketing that tells stories (on our campus website) about ways our faculty, staff, students and the President are engaged in our community
Any unique elements or innovations you want to share (i.e., rubrics, software, remote engagement, models)
● Monthly Service Plunges - providing opportunities for more students to be engaged with our nonprofit partners
● Worked with DPT Program to implement first PT Day of Difference with students and local clinicians working in the community together
● When assessing needs of community partners, sharing them with faculty for possible CEL initiatives
● Participating in President Allison Morrison-Shetlar’s Lynchburg Tomorrow Initiative
○ Asset Mapping of City
○ Created CBR Pilot Project